The 2026 Formula 1 season finally begins this weekend at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. This year, 11 teams line up on the grid thanks to the addition of Cadillac, while a sweeping set of new regulations means that it's all to play for after two back-to-back Constructors' Championships for McLaren.
Rumours have swirled that Mercedes will be the dominant team (at least when the season starts), but Red Bull Racing, Ferrari, and McLaren all made it clear that they have just as much potential to fight for wins.
We also can't discount one of the midfield teams surprising us, though there are continued rumblings that Aston Martin may be unable to even finish the first race.
So, with a new season upon us, here's a full breakdown of what to expect, as well as where and when you'll be able to watch...
When does the 2026 Australian Grand Prix start?
Free Practice 1 kicks off the weekend on Friday, March 6, at 12.30pm local time. Free Practice 2 follows at 4.00pm, while Free Practice 3 is being held at 12.30pm on Saturday, March 7, followed by Qualifying at 4.00pm later that day.
The race itself is at 3.00pm on Sunday, March 8. To help you figure out the local timings, here's a global breakdown, courtesy of Formula 1:
Where can you watch the 2026 Australian Grand Prix?
As well as F1 TV Pro in select markets, the race will stream live on Apple TV in the United States after a multi-year deal that's seen the sport move from ESPN. In the UK and other European locations, the Grand Prix will be on Sky Sports.
What should you expect from the 2026 Australian Grand Prix?
Until cars take to the track on Friday, we still don't know what to expect from each team in terms of pace. The Australian Grand Prix is a street circuit, and some cars always perform better than others on those types of tracks. So, just because one team dominates this weekend, that doesn't necessarily mean the same thing will happen at the next race.
Qualifying will decide the order that the grid starts in on Saturday, meaning that it will be our best indication yet of what to potentially expect from the 2026 F1 season.
In terms of weather, unlike last year's wet race, it currently looks like we can expect a settled weekend with warm weather and temperatures on Sunday ranging from a high of 24 to a low of 15 degrees Celsius.
When is the next Formula 1 race?
That will be the Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit from March 13 - 15.