F1 returns to Australia this week. Here are the basics you need to know

[ad_1] New vehicles, new drivers and one fully new workforce descend on Melbourne as Components 1 returns for the 2026 season.

The Australian Grand Prix will likely be held this weekend at Albert Park, ushering in a brand new period for the collection.

With preseason now completed, listed here are a few of the fundamentals to know forward of this weekend's Australian Grand Prix.

<h2 class="Typography_base__sj2RP Heading_heading__VGa5B future_heading__Gcudw Heading_default__Z3p_p Typography_sizeMobile20__NUDn4 Typography_sizeDesktop32__LR_G6 Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_lineHeightDesktop40__BuoRf Typography_marginBottomMobileSmall__6wx7m Typography_marginBottomDesktopSmall__CboX4 Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_normalise__u5o1s" data-component="Heading">When is the F1 Australian Grand Prix? The Australian Grand Prix will likely be held on Sunday, March 8, on the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne.

The Australian Grand Prix would be the first race of the 2026 F1 championship.

Right here is when the grand prix will start in every Australian state and territory.

3pm AEDT: Victoria, NSW, ACT, Tasmania2:30pm ACDT: South Australia2pm: AEST: Queensland1.30pm ACST: Northern Territory12pm: AWST: Western Australia<h2 class="Typography_base__sj2RP Heading_heading__VGa5B future_heading__Gcudw Heading_default__Z3p_p Typography_sizeMobile20__NUDn4 Typography_sizeDesktop32__LR_G6 Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_lineHeightDesktop40__BuoRf Typography_marginBottomMobileSmall__6wx7m Typography_marginBottomDesktopSmall__CboX4 Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_normalise__u5o1s" data-component="Heading">What's the Australian Grand Prix weekend schedule? The Australian Grand Prix weekend will likely be held from Friday, March 6 to Sunday, March 8.

Observe classes will likely be held on the Friday and Saturday, with qualifying held on Saturday afternoon.

The grand prix will likely be contested on the Sunday.

Free observe 1: 12:30pm-1:30pm, Friday, March 6Free observe 2: 4pm-5pm, Friday March 6Free observe 3: 12:30pm-1:30pm, Saturday, March 7Qualifying: 4pm-5pm, Saturday March 7Grand prix: 3pm, Sunday March 8 All instances are in AEDT

<h2 class="Typography_base__sj2RP Heading_heading__VGa5B future_heading__Gcudw Heading_default__Z3p_p Typography_sizeMobile20__NUDn4 Typography_sizeDesktop32__LR_G6 Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_lineHeightDesktop40__BuoRf Typography_marginBottomMobileSmall__6wx7m Typography_marginBottomDesktopSmall__CboX4 Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_normalise__u5o1s" data-component="Heading">How can I watch the Australian Grand Prix? The F1 Australian Grand Prix could be watched on industrial and pay tv, in addition to streaming platforms.

Community 10 is the free-to-air broadcaster, with the race being proven on Channel 10 and streamed on 10 Play.

Pay tv supplier Foxtel may also broadcast the Australian Grand Prix on Fox Sports activities channel 507. You too can stream on-line through Foxtel Go or on Kayo.

ABC Sport will likely be publishing a stay weblog of the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, March 8.

<h2 class="Typography_base__sj2RP Heading_heading__VGa5B future_heading__Gcudw Heading_default__Z3p_p Typography_sizeMobile20__NUDn4 Typography_sizeDesktop32__LR_G6 Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_lineHeightDesktop40__BuoRf Typography_marginBottomMobileSmall__6wx7m Typography_marginBottomDesktopSmall__CboX4 Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_normalise__u5o1s" data-component="Heading">Who're the drivers and groups within the 2026 F1 season? The 2026 F1 championship has 11 groups, every fielding two drivers.

Fast hits: F1 preseason testing Preseason testing for the brand new Components 1 season ends in Bahrain, with groups not placing their vehicles on a monitor till the primary observe session of the Australian Grand Prix weekend on March 6.

Audi enters the game for the primary time as a constructor, absolutely taking on from the workforce previously often known as Sauber.

Cadillac is the model new workforce for 2026.

The American outfit makes its F1 debut in Melbourne, with loads of buzz and pleasure for the longer term.

There may be one rookie on the grid to begin the 2026 season.

Purple Bull Academy driver Arvid Lindblad will make his F1 debut in Melbourne, driving for Racing Bulls.

That is the primary season since 2016 that options greater than 10 groups.

TeamDrivers (automobile quantity)AlpinePierre Gasly (10), Franco Colapinto (43)Aston MartinFernando Alonso (14), Lance Stroll (18)AudiGabriel Bortoleto (5), Nico Hülkenberg (27)CadillacSergio Perez (11), Valterri Bottas (77)FerrariCharles Leclerc (16), Lewis Hamilton (44)HaasEsteban Ocon (31), Oliver Bearman (87)McLarenLando Norris (1), Oscar Piastri (81)MercedesKimi Antonelli (12), George Russell (63)Racing BullsLiam Lawson (30), Arvid Lindblad (41)Purple Bull RacingMax Verstappen (3), Isack Hadjar (6)WilliamsAlexander Albon (23), Carlos Sainz Jr (55) <h2 class="Typography_base__sj2RP Heading_heading__VGa5B future_heading__Gcudw Heading_default__Z3p_p Typography_sizeMobile20__NUDn4 Typography_sizeDesktop32__LR_G6 Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_lineHeightDesktop40__BuoRf Typography_marginBottomMobileSmall__6wx7m Typography_marginBottomDesktopSmall__CboX4 Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_normalise__u5o1s" data-component="Heading">What number of races are within the 2026 F1 season? The 2026 F1 season will likely be contested over 24 rounds.

Every of the 24 rounds may have a grand prix, whereas six of the rounds may also maintain a dash race (one-third of a grand prix).

There's a model new circuit on the calendar for 2026.

The Spanish Grand Prix (spherical 13) will likely be held in Madrid for the primary time on a road circuit.

Beforehand, the Spanish Grand Prix has been held in Barcelona, which remains to be on the calendar because the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix (spherical 9).

RoundGrand prixCountryCircuit, cityRace dateRound 1Australian Grand PrixAustralia Albert Park Circuit, MelbourneMarch 8Round 2Chinese Grand PrixChinaShanghai Worldwide Circuit, ShanghaiMarch 15 (dash March 14)Spherical 3Japanese Grand PrixJapanSuzuka Circuit, SuzukaMarch 29Round 4Bahrain Grand PrixBahrainBahrain Worldwide Circuit, SakhirApril 12Round 5Saudi Arabian Grand PrixSaudi Arabia Jeddah Corniche Circuit, JeddahApril 19Round 6Miami Grand PrixUnited StatesMiami Worldwide Autodrome, Miami GardensMay 3 (dash Might 2)Spherical 7Canadian Grand PrixCanadaCircuit Gilles Villeneuve, MontrealMay 24 (dash Might 23)Spherical 8Monaco Grand PrixMonacoCircuit de Monaco, MonacoJune 7Round 9Barcelona-Catalunya Grand PrixSpainCircuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, MontmelóJune 14Round 10Austrian Grand PrixAustriaRed Bull Ring, SpielbergJune 28Round 11British Grand PrixEnglandSilverstone Circuit, SilverstoneJuly 5 (dash July 4)Spherical 12Belgian Grand PrixBelgiumCircuit de Spa-Francorchamps, StavelotJuly 19Round 13Hungarian Grand PrixHungaryHungaroring, MogyoródJuly 26Round 14Dutch Grand PrixNetherlandsCircuit Zandvoort, ZandvoortAugust 23 (dash August 22)Spherical 15Italian Grand PrixItalyAutodromo Nazionale Monza, MonzaSeptember 6Round 16Spanish Grand PrixSpainMadring, MadridSeptember 13Round 17Azerbaijan Grand PrixAzerbaijan Baku Metropolis Circuit, BakuSeptember 26Round 18Singapore Grand PrixSingaporeMarina Bay Road Circuit, SingaporeOctober 11 (dash October 10)Spherical 19United States Grand PrixUnited StatesCircuit of the Americas, AustinOctober 25Round 20Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix MexicoAutódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico CityNovember 1Round 21São Paulo Grand PrixBrazilAutódromo José Carlos Tempo (Interlagos), São PauloNovember 8Round 22Las Vegas Grand PrixUnited StatesLas Vegas Strip Circuit, Las VegasNovember 21Round 23Qatar Grand PrixQatarLusail Worldwide Circuit, LusailNovember 29Round 24Abu Dhabi Grand PrixUnited Arab EmiratesYas Marina Circuit, Abu DhabiDecember 6 *All dates mirror when the race will likely be held within the host metropolis

<h2 class="Typography_base__sj2RP Heading_heading__VGa5B future_heading__Gcudw Heading_default__Z3p_p Typography_sizeMobile20__NUDn4 Typography_sizeDesktop32__LR_G6 Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_lineHeightDesktop40__BuoRf Typography_marginBottomMobileSmall__6wx7m Typography_marginBottomDesktopSmall__CboX4 Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_normalise__u5o1s" data-component="Heading">What's new to F1 in 2026? Components 1 has gone by an overhaul for the 2026 season.

New chassis and engine laws usher in a model new period for F1, with the vehicles utterly completely different to those utilized in 2025.

The entrance and rear wings on the vehicles will change all through the lap, relying on whether or not the motive force goes by corners, or rushing down the straight.

Loading Instagram content material

When a driver is on a protracted straight, they may be capable of open the rear wing of their automobile and flatten out the entrance wings to cut back drag.

The discount in drag will permit the automobile to attain increased speeds.

Whereas most groups have gone for the traditional rear wing that opens like a mailbox, Ferrari has designed a rear wing that rotates the other way up.

In the meantime, the engine stays a 1.6 litre V6 turbo, however it is going to produce much more electrical energy than earlier than, probably thrice as a lot.

These new engines are anticipated to get roughly 50 per cent of their energy from {the electrical} system, in comparison with the earlier engines, the place round 20 per cent of energy was electrical.