Mercedes-AMG F1 domination is back? + Aprilia faster than Ducati

Is Mercedes-AMG about to dominate Formula 1 again? And how has Aprilia Racing managed to outpace Ducati in MotoGP? In the latest episode of the evo India Podcast, Editor Sirish Chandran sits down with Adil Jal Darukhanawala, editor-at-large at evo India, for a deep dive into everything we have seen from the 2026 F1 season and the 2026 MotoGP season so far.

In Formula 1, Sirish and Adil break down the sweeping new F1 regulations. Are they good for the sport, good for racing, or are they simply turning Formula 1 into a pure engineering championship? They discuss how teams are having to fundamentally rethink their approach to energy harvesting, deployment, and utilisation in both qualifying and race conditions. They go deep on the form of Mercedes-AMG, McLaren, Red Bull Racing, Ferrari, and Alpine across the Australian Grand Prix 2026 and the Chinese Grand Prix 2026, and what the early F1 constructor standings 2026 tell us about where this season is headed.

In MotoGP in 2026, the story so far has been Aprilia. Adil and Sirish explore why Aprilia Racing has been quicker than Ducati across the opening two rounds, breaking down the aerodynamic philosophy and setup choices that are making the difference. They also discuss Marc Marquez's struggles, the underperformance of the Honda and Yamaha, and what it will take for the Japanese manufacturers to close the gap to the European teams.

The episode closes with Adil's predictions for both the 2026 F1 championship and the 2026 MotoGP championship and his early read on what the F1 2026 regulations could mean for the grid. If you follow Formula 1, MotoGP, or both, this is the motorsport podcast episode you need to hear. Buckle up.