The 2026 Formula 1 season begins with the Australian Grand Prix. After Bahrain opened the season for several years, the race in Melbourne will once again serve as the season opener for the second year in a row.

For many years, the race weekend in Melbourne was defined by tens of thousands of fans cheering for Daniel Ricciardo, but this season they will have to do without him. However, McLaren has another Australian driver in Oscar Piastri, meaning the young driver is likely to receive plenty of support from the home crowd.

The Albert Park Street Circuit — located in a public park and only used for several racing events each year — took over from the Adelaide Street Circuit in 1996. With its many corners and semi-street circuit character, overtaking is a major challenge. Despite that, the track has produced several memorable races over the years.

The first press conferences in Melbourne are scheduled for March 5. The drivers will take to the track on March 6 for the first two free practice sessions. Qualifying will take place on March 7, with the Australian Grand Prix itself held on March 8.

The Australian Grand Prix can be followed live in GPblog’s live blog starting one hour before the race. Like all other Grands Prix, the race will be broadcast live on Viaplay and F1TV Pro, along with qualifying and the practice sessions.

Free Practice 1: Friday 6 March 01:30 – 02:30

Free Practice 2: Friday 6 March 05:00 – 06:00

Free Practice 3: Saturday 7 March 01:30 – 02:30

Qualifying: Saturday 7 March 05:00 – 06:00

Race: Sunday 8 March 04:00 – 06:00

After the season opener in Australia, Formula 1 remains on the eastern side of the globe for a while. The Chinese Grand Prix and the Japanese Grand Prix follow the race in Melbourne, before the championship moves on to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. It is not until May that Formula 1 leaves Oceania and Asia, when the Miami Grand Prix takes place.

In 2026, Formula 1 will once again be broadcast in the Netherlands by Viaplay. All F1 sessions throughout the weekend can be watched on the streaming platform. Viaplay also provides pre-race and post-race analysis for both qualifying and the race, along with several Formula 1 programmes.

Another option to follow Formula 1 live is F1TV Pro, Formula 1’s official streaming service. F1TV Pro broadcasts all sessions from Australia in the early morning. Viewers can choose whether to watch with English commentary or Dutch commentary.

In 2025, the Australian Grand Prix returned as the season opener, and it immediately produced an eventful weekend. Rain fell during the race, which started with Lando Norris on pole position. Debutant Isack Hadjar misjudged the slippery white line and crashed his Racing Bulls car during the formation lap.

It turned into a chaotic Grand Prix. Among the rookies, only Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman avoided crashing. Fernando Alonso also did not escape an accident, while the McLaren drivers briefly lost control of their cars as well. For Oscar Piastri, this proved crucial, as he spun and eventually finished only ninth.

In the end, Norris won the Grand Prix. The Brit finished just ahead of Max Verstappen, who came home in second place in Melbourne. George Russell completed the podium, while debutant Antonelli finished fourth. Lewis Hamilton’s debut for Ferrari was disappointing, as the seven-time world champion finished tenth.