Will Power’s move to Andretti Global raised plenty of questions ahead of the 2026 IndyCar season, but just a few races into the year, the veteran Australian is already showing signs that he could be back in the championship fight.
While the standings after the opening rounds may not fully reflect it, Power himself is clear about one thing: the performance is there.
“It did look like a slow start, but we’ve had the speed,” Power explained. “We were leading at Phoenix before the incident, and St. Pete would have been a top five. The capability to contend for the championship is there.”
Strong foundation despite early setbacks
On paper, Power’s start to the season has been inconsistent. Incidents and missed opportunities have cost him valuable points, particularly in Phoenix, where he was in contention before things went wrong.
But beneath those results lies a different story, one of underlying pace and growing confidence within a new environment. At Arlington, everything finally came together. Power delivered a clean and controlled weekend, consistently running near the front and finishing on the podium.
“That was a very good, solid weekend,” he said. “We stayed quiet, put it all together and finished third.” For a driver adapting to a new team, that kind of complete performance marks an important step forward.
After more than a decade with Team Penske, Power’s switch to Andretti Global represents one of the biggest changes of his career. Unsurprisingly, the transition has required adjustment—not only in driving style, but also in team processes and communication.
“They definitely do things a different way,” Power said. “But they’re very well put together. They’ve got everything they need to win a championship.” He also highlighted the structure and preparation within the team as key strengths, noting a more detailed and disciplined approach to debriefs and data analysis.
At the same time, Power’s own experience is already influencing the team, as he provides feedback from his years at Penske to help refine the car and improve performance.
The result is a collaboration that is still evolving, but already delivering results. “We’re learning each other every weekend,” he said. “And that’s only going to get better.”
Belief in a title challenge
Perhaps the most striking takeaway from Power’s early-season comments is his confidence, not just in the team, but in their ability to compete for the championship immediately.
Before the season, Power suggested it might take time for Andretti to reach title-winning consistency. Now, just three races in, his outlook has changed.
“I really believe I’m in a position to win a championship this year,” he said. “We’re there already.” That belief is based on a simple observation: Andretti has shown speed across multiple track types early in the season, including a strong performance on a short oval, previously considered a weakness. With that gap already closing, Power sees no fundamental limitation preventing a title challenge.
The Palou benchmark
Of course, any championship bid in 2026 will likely run through one driver: Alex Palou. The three-time reigning champion continues to set the standard in IndyCar, combining consistency with race-winning pace across all types of circuits. “He’s the standout,” Power admitted. “You can’t have a weakness, because he will get you.”
For Power, that means delivering near-perfect weekends, something that has become increasingly difficult in a field as competitive as IndyCar’s. “If you misstep now, you’re not finishing third, you’re finishing 17th,” he explained. That level of competition makes consistency just as important as outright speed.
Power’s optimism is also rooted in what he sees inside Andretti Global. From personnel and resources to engineering depth, he believes the team has all the ingredients required to succeed at the highest level.
“When I first walked into the shop, I could see they’ve got everything they need to win,” he said. The challenge now is execution, putting together clean weekends, avoiding mistakes and maximizing opportunities when they arise. That process has already started, with Arlington serving as a clear example of what the team is capable of.
Momentum building
As the season moves into its next phase, Power enters the upcoming races with growing confidence and momentum. The early setbacks may have cost him points, but they have not shaken his belief or his competitiveness. If anything, they have reinforced the idea that the pieces are already in place.
For a driver of Power’s experience and pedigree, that is a dangerous combination for the rest of the field. If Andretti continues to build on its early-season form, Will Power could soon find himself not just fighting at the front, but firmly back in the hunt for another IndyCar championship.
written by Philipp Kraus // Media Credit: Penske Entertainment
