F1 2026 Season Kicks Off in Melbourne: New Era, New Contenders

The 2026 Formula 1 season launches this weekend with the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne's Albert Park Street Circuit, marking the beginning of a new era in the sport. With fresh engine and chassis regulations, plus the debut of the Cadillac team, the championship is poised for a dramatic shake-up.

A New Champion and Shifting Dynamics

Lando Norris enters the season as the reigning world champion, having narrowly defeated four-time champion Max Verstappen by just two points in a thrilling Abu Dhabi finale last year. However, McLaren are not considered the frontrunners for 2026 due to the sweeping regulatory changes.

Instead, Mercedes have emerged as the team to beat, with their engine expertise positioning them at the top of pre-season predictions. British driver George Russell is the bookmakers' favourite to claim victory in Melbourne.

Ferrari's Resurgence

Lewis Hamilton endured a difficult debut season with Ferrari in 2025, failing to secure a single podium finish. However, the seven-time world champion, now 41, and teammate Charles Leclerc showed impressive pace during pre-season testing, putting the Scuderia firmly in contention for the opening race.

Australian Grand Prix Schedule

All times are in GMT:

Friday 6 March: Free Practice 2 - 5am
Saturday 7 March: Free Practice 3 - 1:30am, Qualifying - 5am
Sunday 8 March: Race - 4am

How to Watch

In the United Kingdom, the Australian Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Coverage of Sunday's race begins at 2:30am GMT. Sky Sports subscribers can stream the action via the Sky Go app.

Non-subscribers can purchase a NOWTV Day Pass for access. For viewers travelling abroad, a VPN may be required to unblock streaming services.