The 2026 Formula season begins on Friday 6 March with the first two practice sessions at the Australian Grand Prix.
This year marks one of the biggest regulation changes in the series for years, as the ground effect cars introduced in 2022 have been replaced with smaller, lighter machines designed to improve on-track action.
The most significant change for the new campaign, however, is to the power unit, which now features a 50/50 split between internal combustion and electrical power. However, this has led to lots of fears about the impact it will have on the spectacle, particularly at Albert Park, where energy management is set to be significant.
Practice on Friday will offer a first look at just how tricky that will be for the drivers.
For the first time since 2016, there will be 22 drivers taking part in an official F1 session, as Cadillac joins the field as the 11th team. The American car giant welcomes Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez back to the grid.
Audi also makes its debut in 2026, as it takes over the old Sauber outfit for its first campaign as a works entry.
Ford makes its return to the grid as engine partner to Red Bull, who debuts its first in-house-built power unit. Honda also has a works engine programme in 2026 with Aston Martin, though its start to life has been this season has been difficult.
After pre-season testing, the pecking order looks to see Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes remain as the leading four teams.
2026 Australian Grand Prix Friday schedule
FP1 - 1:30am-2:30am
FP2 - 5am-6am
The lights in the pit lane go green and a plethora of cars instantly take to the track. First out of the pits is Nico Hulkenberg for Audi.
Aero paint and rakes are on full display.
For Lando Norris, today will see him debut the #1 plate on a race weekend, providing an extra level of pressure. It's not something every driver can handle, and as the music plays, we're about to see how it affects the McLaren driver.
At the opposite end of things, Mercedes and Ferrari left Bahrain testing in a very strong position, while Red Bull and McLaren had more than a little to smile about. It's unlikely that all the sandbags - if indeed there were any - will be removed in the coming hour, but we will begin to get a clearer picture of where teams rank.
With just over 10 minutes remaining before the session gets underway, let's quickly mention Aston Martin, and the team's problems. Adrian Newey's full comments can be found here, but in short, vibrations are causing significant reliability issues, but more concerningly, they are also causing the drivers to fear permanent nerve damage by completing more than a handful of laps.
Alonso refuses to concede that completing Sunday's Grand Prix is an impossible task. However, as things stand, just seeing the flag does seem like an ambitious target at the very least.
Conditions couldn't really be better at Albert Park, with a smattering of clouds and temperatures of 20C. Wind is fairly constant too at 1.2m/s in a south-westerly direction, providing a crosswind into Turn 1.
Good morning! If you're up and joining us for FP1 at the Australian Grand Prix, welcome. Coffee at the ready, for what should be an intriguing first session of 2026. Who will be on top, and will Aston Martin complete more than a handful of laps? We'll find out shortly.
The 2026 F1 season begins today, with FP1 for the Australian Grand Prix beginning at 1:30am UK.