2025 vs 2026: The Big Team Check After the First Four Races | Part 4 of 6

Four races are done, the spring break has arrived – and that makes it the perfect time for the next early assessment. In Part 4 of our big team check, we focus on Rookie Monsters and Ottimale EM, two teams that have moved into the spotlight in very different ways during the opening phase of the season.

Team Rookie Monsters: Between setbacks and the defining moment in Suzuka

Rookie Monsters are one of the most fascinating examples of how quickly the picture of an early season can change. On paper, the team sit on 24 points – a total that initially looks solid compared to last year. But the way those points have been scored tells a far more intense story.

Because these first weeks have been anything but straightforward. There were races such as Qatar that felt more disappointing than encouraging. Moments where it seemed this project clearly had potential, but had not yet found the calm and consistency needed to turn that potential into reliable results. That is exactly why Suzuka now feels like a turning point that overshadows everything that came before it.

Chris Gitsov’s surprise victory did not just give the team a major sporting highlight, it suddenly gave them a completely different narrative. A newcomer that had previously moved between flashes of promise and setbacks became, in one moment, a team that had already won a race. And that changes the perception entirely. This was not simply a good result – it was a statement, an emotional breakthrough, and perhaps exactly the kind of moment a young project needs to build real belief for the weeks ahead.

On top of that, Rookie Monsters are travelling to Canada not only with momentum, but also with a small update package. Compared to the major overhauls brought by other teams, that may not sound spectacular at first glance, but it could be exactly the right balance: not an overhasty revolution, but targeted development on a foundation that has very clearly shown promise. Most importantly, this team are no longer arriving with the question of whether they can compete – they arrive knowing they have already proved that, on the right day, even the very front is within reach.

And that is where the real challenge begins. Suzuka changed the mood, but Canada now has to show whether that emotional high can turn into genuine stability. Because as powerful as Gitsov’s surprise win was, Rookie Monsters will ultimately be judged on whether that triumph marked the beginning of a new phase – or was simply one magical outlier in an otherwise still inconsistent early season.

Ottimale EM: The positive surprise that is already more than just an outsider

Ottimale EM are, without question, one of the positive surprises of the season so far. 30 points, fourth place in the championship, and clearly ahead of where they were at this stage last year – that is not just a decent start, it is a real step forward. This team have put themselves in a position where they can no longer be viewed merely as solid points scorers, but as a team that have visibly moved upwards within the field.

A major reason for that progress is Tim Hauck. The fact that he currently sits third in the world championship is one of the defining stories of this early season. Hauck has not only been quick, but above all consistent, composed and remarkably mature in the way he has approached these opening races. He is very clearly one of the surprises of the year and has given Ottimale EM a level of competitive strength that many may not have expected.

At the same time, this is not a one-man show. Fan favourite Stefan Schubert has already contributed points of his own and has also played his part in helping the team look so stable. That is exactly what makes Ottimale’s start so interesting: this is not a project being carried by one driver alone, but a team whose overall picture looks more settled, more resilient and more competitive than it did a year ago.

And yet the team do not seem content with simply preserving that progress. Ottimale EM are bringing a small update package to Canada, with a few fine adjustments aimed at improving performance even further. That is a strong signal, because it shows the team do not want to simply manage a good start to the season – they understand that this is exactly the moment to keep pushing. When a team surprises early and immediately continues to develop, it can quickly become more than just a nice opening story.

That is exactly why Ottimale EM currently look like one of the most dangerous teams in the extended front-running group. Perhaps the major breakthrough right to the very front is still missing, and perhaps there are still no wins or podiums on paper – but the direction is unmistakably right. And if Hauck can maintain this level, Stefan continues to add valuable points, and the small Canada package has the desired effect, Ottimale may soon no longer be seen as a surprise at all, but as a genuine fixture in the fight just behind the very top teams.

Two teams with momentum – but in very different ways

After four races, the conclusion here is already a clear one as well: Rookie Monsters are currently living above all from the emotional lift of their Suzuka victory, a result that has suddenly given the entire project a different energy. Ottimale EM, by contrast, are impressing through a calmer and more stable development path, steadily working themselves into a position that is commanding more and more respect across the field.

Both teams are heading to Canada with small update packages, but their situations are different. Rookie Monsters want to preserve the momentum of a magical moment and turn it into greater consistency. Ottimale EM, meanwhile, want to build further on an already strong base and take the next step forward. That is exactly why Canada could once again show that both teams are already far more than just interesting side stories in this season.