Razor GP: Between Patience, Experience, and Title Hunger

Razor GP head into the 2026 season with an unusual blend of restraint and relentless ambition. After a strong year in which they spent a long time fighting for both championships, the outlook is slightly different this time around. Team principal Bastian Paisler and driver Fabian Walter speak openly about expectations, concerns — and their unwavering belief in the Razor GP project.

A bumpy start — by design

Unlike last year, when Razor GP were among the strongest packages already in pre-season, Paisler expects a tougher start to 2026. But he sees no reason to panic — it’s part of the plan. The team deliberately didn’t chase maximum early-season form, instead committing to a long-term development concept. The opening races may therefore be harder than in 2025, but with experience and consistency they want to keep the points flow steady until the updates begin to bite.

Walter backs that approach. Razor GP took a more conventional path through the upgrades and didn’t expect some teams to appear so strong so early. Still, he’s confident the team can score points throughout the first quarter of the season. How the competitive order evolves after that remains to be seen — but the confidence is clear.

One decisive factor could be budget. According to Paisler, Razor GP still have the largest development capital in the league by a significant margin — enough to bring new parts to almost every race. It’s a luxury very few teams can match.

Competition, self-doubt, and a bucket full of memes

Asked whether there’s anyone in particular he’s worried about, Paisler answers with a mix of respect and self-criticism. Optiminal Esports, Falcon Simracing and SVL Racing have looked strong — and Fabian Szyrzik at Horizon Motorsport is, in his view, a serious threat again after 2024. But his biggest concern is his own performance: less training time, more private commitments, and mistakes that simply didn’t happen in earlier years. At the same time, he acknowledges that errors are inevitable when you’re driving at the limit.

Walter takes the question with humour, laughing about Paisler’s “2021 meme suitcase” — a reminder of the team’s tougher days. But he’s equally convinced Razor GP are on the right path, and that Paisler stands fully behind the direction they’ve chosen.

The objective hasn’t changed: titles

Even if the season start is likely to be more difficult, the goal remains the same: Razor GP want both championships. Paisler speaks openly about how close the team felt to the top in 2025 — and how badly they want that feeling back. The plan is to learn from last year’s mistakes, improve operations, and become stronger as the season unfolds.

Walter puts it in his trademark dry style: after last year’s success, they want to reach for the crown again — or the “crowES.” The humour stays, and so does the ambition.

Track advantages? Too early to call

Neither wants to make concrete predictions about track-specific strengths. Paisler says it’s simply too early and stresses that the team will give 110 percent regardless of circuit characteristics. Walter is similarly cautious and notes that the clearer picture will only come as the season progresses.

No engineer — but an in-house overlay

In terms of preparation, Razor GP continue to rely on self-sufficiency. They don’t have a dedicated engineer, even though they’re generally open to the idea. Instead, the team leans on experience, training, and a custom overlay Paisler built in the DevMod, packed with useful information. Walter complements that with his second screen — a setup that has worked well for them in the past.

A milestone and plenty of excitement

Both head into the season genuinely excited. They know what’s possible when everything clicks — and 2025 showed just how dangerous Razor GP can be when the full package comes together. One milestone is already locked in: in Melbourne, the team will celebrate their 130th Grand Prix in the Virtual Formula Championship. Razor GP have been part of the grid since 2018 — and they’re still full of energy.

2026 will be a year of patience, development, and undiluted title hunger for Razor GP. The start may be tougher than usual, but the team is convinced they can fight at the very front again when it matters. The question isn’t if Razor GP will attack — it’s when.