Official 2026 Australian Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[Piginapoke]

Hi all- here we go again, with a new F1 season with both new chassis and power-unit regulations. Will it all be ok? Who knows, but Melbourne has a lot of straights and not much heavy braking to recharge the batteries, so it will be a tough test for the new rules.

Mercedes seems to be favorite, Ferrari has done a good job (and has an incredible race start) and Red Bull and McLaren are both in the mix. It's clear that Aston Martin has had a nightmare and the Williams is late, big, heavy and slow.

So place your bets for the 1st race- if nothing else it will be an interesting watch.

Date(s): Friday 6 to Sunday 8 March 2026

UK Broadcast Timings (and track time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1. Channel 4 is showing highlights of all competitive sessions.





2025 Highlights: Lando wins, Hajdar cries

https://youtu.be/md9-jG4RzXs?si=I9v4EQbPT8X8HiPW

Tyres:

Soft compounds: C3 C4 C5



2024 Result:

Edited by Piginapoke on Monday 23 February 07:31

[Craigyp79]

Cheers for setting this up again, here's to an exciting season!

[BrettMRC]

Thank you as always Mr Poke!

My predictions based on the absolute certainties of pre-season testing...

Grid:
HAM
LEC
RUS

Podium:
RUS
NOR
VER

Double DNFs for Ferrari, (because they were looking good in pre-season!) Aston Martin, (because I doubt it will complete all of Q1) and Cadillac.

[WestyCarl]

So who's getting (staying) up for Qualifying and race

[Piginapoke]

WestyCarl said:

So who's getting (staying) up for Qualifying and race

How could you miss it?!

[kambites]

I haven't got the faintest idea who's going to win this one, which is nice!

I guess if I had to pick, I'd say Russell.

[Gary29]

I really hope George has the machinery to challenge for the WDC this season.

I thought the first GP was next weekend for some reason, so this is a nice surprise for me. I may well set my alarm to get up for this one.

[Scrump]

Piap, thanks in advance for another season of race threads.

I am looking forward to seeing how this season pans out with the new car designs.

[CSR Performance]

Looking forward to this one. I've gone for George as the Merc is looking strong, but if the McLaren works I expect Oscar to be well up there. He's going to be balls to the wall this year.

[Derek Smith]

Great to have F1 back and great to have you back, PiaP. Thanks again for this and those to come.

[rdjohn]

That’s cute, top 3 driver all English.

[Big Nanas]

Nice work, PiaP, get it open nice and early!

kambites said:

I haven't got the faintest idea who's going to win this one, which is nice!

I guess if I had to pick, I'd say Russell.

I know, right? It'd be easier to say who isn't going to win..Cadillac, Aston Martin, probably Audi. But the winner?

Max, by an enormous margin, and then everyone collectively groans "Not another year of this"

[Sandpit Steve]

Here we go then, new season!

Thanks @PIAP for the threads as ever, which reminds me I need to do the support races thread. F2 and FIA F3 are in Melbourne, which can’t be good for their budgets. Also the Supercars, if anyone knows where that might be televised internationally.

Back to F1, can we dream that this might be Ferrari’s year finally?

The red cars and the silver ones looked the best in testing, but we won’t really know the order until the chips are down for qualifying in Melbourne.

With the new formula, I’m also expecting at least one protest for technical regulations by someone. At least we don’t have Mr Horny in the paddock any more.

[Liamjrhodes]

Can't wait for it to get started!

Excited to see who is actually the fastest and most reliable!

Going to the Hungarian GP in July so hopefully its still close & competitive by then!

[ralphrj]

kambites said:

I haven't got the faintest idea who's going to win this one, which is nice!

I guess if I had to pick, I'd say Russell.

He is the bookies favourite.

Odds from Paddy Power at the time of posting:

Driver	Odds
Russell	21/10
Leclerc	4/1
Verstappen	9/2
Norris	6/1
Antonelli	6/1
Hamilton	6/1
Piastri	10/1
Alonso	25/1
Hadjar	50/1
Stroll	66/1
Sainz	80/1
Gasly	80/1
Lawson	100/1
Albon	100/1
Hulkenburg	150/1
Ocon	150/1
Bortoleto	150/1
Bearman	150/1
Colapinto	200/1
Bottas	250/1
Perez	250/1
Lindblad	300/1

[ajprice]

I've gone with Russell. However the qualifying goes, with the way the cars start or don't start off the line, the first corner could be a completely different order .

[geeks]

Gary29 said:

I really hope George has the machinery to challenge for the WDC this season.

I thought the first GP was next weekend for some reason, so this is a nice surprise for me. I may well set my alarm to get up for this one.

It is next weekend, sorry to disappoint.

[Gary29]

geeks said:

Gary29 said:

I really hope George has the machinery to challenge for the WDC this season.

I thought the first GP was next weekend for some reason, so this is a nice surprise for me. I may well set my alarm to get up for this one.

It is next weekend, sorry to disappoint.

Oh st yeah, I struggle knowing what day it is at the best of times, never mind the date! Sorry if I got anyone else's hopes up.

I should know, March 7th is my mum's birthday

[ralphrj]

Piginapoke said:

Mercedes seems to be favorite, Ferrari has done a good job (and has an incredible race start) and Red Bull and McLaren are both in the mix.

The first proper race start will be interesting. In several of the test starts the Ferrari had a big advantage. However, it is worth noting that in the last 2 test starts the McLaren got off the line well. I don't know what McLaren could be doing different to Mercedes given that they have the same power unit. It makes me wonder if Mercedes were exaggerating their start problems.

Edited by ralphrj on Monday 23 February 12:13

[TikTak]

Welcome one and all to the new season ... Can't believe it's almost upon us. Thank you for starting us off in expert fashion once more PiaP!

Not got a scooby so going with early testing pace and plumped for LeClerc. Assuming the other teams haven't worked out how to start and the Ferrari's can keep in front because no one understands how to pass yet either.

Hoping the field spread isn't diabolical and that Aston can maybe get to race distance.