Formula 1’s 2026 season begins this weekend at the Australian Grand Prix, opening a new era for the championship following a major overhaul of both chassis and power unit regulations.
After nine days of pre-season testing across Barcelona and Bahrain, teams arrive at Melbourne’s Albert Park with only limited data on the competitive order. Early indications suggest McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull Racing and Ferrari could again be among the frontrunners, although the new rules leave plenty of scope for surprises.
The 2026 season also sees the arrival of two new teams, Audi and Cadillac, both making their race weekend debuts in Australia.
Track action begins on Friday in Australia, with the first two practice sessions giving teams their first opportunity to evaluate the new 2026 cars in race-weekend conditions.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of Friday practice in Melbourne.
How can I watch the F1 Australian GP?
Broadcast coverage of Formula 1 varies by region, with some changes for 2026. In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports continues as the championship’s exclusive broadcaster, showing every session live throughout the 2026 season. Coverage can also be streamed via Sky Go or NOW.
In the United States, Apple TV has taken over as Formula 1’s primary broadcast partner for 2026, with all sessions available on the platform following a new multi-year deal. F1 TV remains as the series' global subscription streaming service.
Motorsport.com will provide live text commentary of every session, beginning with Free Practice 1.
Free Practice 1
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Australian GP FP1 |
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Free Practice 2
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Australian GP FP2 |
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Free Practice 3
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Australian GP FP3 |
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Qualifying
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Australian GP QU |
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Race
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Australian GP RACE |
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What is the weather forecast for F1 Australian GP Friday practice?
Friday 6 March: Free Practice 1 and 2
Conditions for the opening day of the 2026 Formula 1 season are expected to be warm and dry in Melbourne.
For Free Practice 1, temperatures are forecast to be around 20C with partial cloud cover and only a minimal chance of rain (less than 5%). Winds should remain light at roughly 3mph, with humidity near 65% before dropping as cars are scheduled to hit the track.
By the time Free Practice 2 begins later in the evening, skies are expected to clear with temperatures rising to approximately 23C. Humidity should drop to around 46%, while winds remain calm.
These stable conditions should provide teams with consistent track running as they begin their preparations for the opening race of the 2026 season.
All F1 2026 Teams and Drivers
| Team | Driver | Driver |
|---|---|---|
| McLaren | Lando Norris | Oscar Piastri |
| Mercedes | George Russell | Kimi Antonelli |
| Red Bull | Max Verstappen | Isack Hadjar |
| Ferrari | Charles Leclerc | Lewis Hamilton |
| Williams | Alex Albon | Carlos Sainz |
| Racing Bulls | Liam Lawson | Arvid Lindblad |
| Aston Martin | Fernando Alonso | Lance Stroll |
| Haas | Oliver Bearman | Esteban Ocon |
| Audi | Nico Hulkenberg | Gabriel Bortoleto |
| Alpine | Pierre Gasly | Franco Colapinto |
| Cadillac | Valtteri Bottas | Sergio Perez |
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- The Motorsport.com Team
Originally published by motorsport.com —
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