The 2026 Formula 1 season begins this weekend with the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne. All 11 teams, including newcomer Cadillac, prepare for the opener under new technical regulations. Sessions start on Friday, March 6, with the race scheduled for Sunday, March 8.
The Australian Grand Prix marks the start of the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, hosted at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, a venue that has held the event since 1996 and frequently serves as the season opener.
Free Practice 1 kicks off on Friday, March 6, at 1230 local time, followed by Free Practice 2 at 1600. On Saturday, March 7, Free Practice 3 occurs at 1230, leading into Qualifying at 1600. The main race begins on Sunday, March 8, at 1500 local time.
Teams have adjusted to sweeping new technical regulations during the winter break. Cadillac joins the grid, bringing the total to 11 outfits with 20 drivers.
Coverage is available live on F1 TV Pro, offering onboard cameras for all drivers, Pre-Race and Post-Race Shows, and ad-free viewing in six languages. It streams on devices including Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku. F1 TV Premium provides 4K Ultra HD/HDR on up to six devices, with a Multiview feature offering 26 feeds. Live timing is accessible on F1.com and the F1 app for all sessions.
Formula 2 and Formula 3 also launch their seasons concurrently. For F2, Free Practice and Qualifying are on Friday, March 6, at 1000 and 1455 local time; Sprint Race on Saturday at 1410; Feature Race on Sunday at 1125. F3 Practice is Friday at 0850, Qualifying at 1400; Sprint Race Saturday at 1115; Feature Race Sunday at 0850.
Weather forecasts indicate dry conditions, with temperatures between 15 and 24 degrees Celsius. Friday may see sunshine and clouds, Saturday cloudier, and Sunday brighter. Last year's event faced heavy rain, but no such issues are expected this time.
Global start times for the race vary by region, detailed on the official F1 site.
