The 2026 Formula 1 season kicks off this weekend in Melbourne with the traditional Australian Grand Prix. Held on the fast and spectacular Albert Park Circuit, this opening round marks the start of a highly anticipated championship, characterized by new technical regulations and the arrival of an 11th team on the grid.
F1 in Melbourne: a fast and demanding street circuit
As is often the case with the Australian race, European fans will have to get up very early to follow the action.
Program F1 Weekend and opening hours:
Friday 06 March
- Free practice 1: 02:30 p.m. – 03:30 p.m.
- Free practice 2: 06:00-07:00
Saturday March, 07
- Free practice 3: 02:30-03:30
- Qualifications: 06:00 p.m. – 07:00 p.m.
Sunday 08 March
- Race: 05:00 a.m.
The race will be broadcast in Europe on the usual broadcasters. F1 (specialized sports channels and official F1 broadcasting platforms depending on the country).
A fast and demanding urban circuit: The Albert Park Circuit is a semi-urban circuit located around Albert Park Lake in Melbourne. Approximately 5,3 kilometers long, it combines long straights, fast corners, and some technical braking zones.
Main features of the F1 circuit:
- 14 turns
- high average speed
- overtaking zones thanks to long straightaways
- walls close by, typical of urban circuits
Since several recent modifications to the track layout, the circuit has become faster and more conducive to overtaking, which has often provided exciting races for the opening of the championship.
Memories of the previous edition…
The 2025 edition of the Australian F1 Grand Prix had confirmed the dominance of Max Verstappen and Red BullThe Dutch driver had won in Melbourne after a solid weekend, benefiting from a perfectly executed strategy and a pace superior to his rivals. Behind him, the battle had been intense between several top teams, already illustrating the close competition in the field.
A 2026 season full of unknowns...
This opening round will be particularly scrutinized as it should give the first indications of the hierarchy of the 2026 championship. Between new regulations, strategies to adapt and the arrival of new players on the grid, Melbourne could already hold a few surprises.
One thing is certain: with the first points of the season at stake, the Australian Grand Prix remains one of the most unpredictable and spectacular events on the calendar. Formula 1.
