Australian GP opens 2026 Formula 1 season with Audi debut; Check times and how to watch
The 2026 Fórmula 1 world championship officially begins this weekend on the Albert Park circuit, in Melbourne, marking one of the biggest transformations in the history of the category. The Austrália GP is the stage chosen for the introduction of a revolutionary technical regulation, which features redesigned chassis and unprecedented power units, focused on sustainability and greater competitiveness between teams.
Expectations for this opening stage are high due to the debut of new manufacturers and significant changes in the composition of the grid, in addition to a new dynamic in the qualifying sessions. No Brasil, the event takes on a special shape with the return of broadcasts on Rede Globo, after five consecutive seasons on TV Bandeirantes, consolidating a new exhibition cycle for the Brazilian public.
- Official opening of the season with 22 cars on the starting grid.
- Debut of Audi as a factory team taking over the operation of Sauber.
- Entry of Cadillac as a new competitor, expanding the diversity of the championship.
- Brazilian participation guaranteed with Gabriel Bortoleto representing Audi.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2026, IT’S RACE WEEK!! 🤩
—Formula 1 (@F1)March 2, 2026
This weekend, 22 drivers will take to the track in Australia for the first round of the season 🙌#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/ai83EtH7Ko
Technical revolution and new engines on the Melbourne tracks
The changes implemented for the 2026 season drastically alter the behavior of the cars in the curves and straights of the Australian circuit. The new engines were developed to balance thermal power with a significant increase in electrical energy delivery, requiring more strategic piloting from drivers.
On the same topic: Formula 1 evaluates windows in October and December to reschedule Bahrain GP
Teams worked intensively during pre-season testing to understand active aerodynamics, which allows adjustments to the front and rear wings in different sectors of the track. Este factor should provide more overtaking and close disputes, meeting the objective of Federação Internacional and Automobilismo of making the show more dynamic for the fans.
Structural changes and new features on the starting grid
The Fórmula 1 grid features familiar faces in new homes and the promotion of talent from the youth categories to the main teams. Audi begins its journey in the category with Gabriel Bortoleto, which enters its second full year after a solid and promising debut season.
At Red Bull Racing, the promotion of Isack Hadjar to the position of Yuki Tsunoda signals the Austrian team’s confidence in its young driver program. The Racing Bulls, in turn, welcomes the newcomer Arvid Lindblad, while the Cadillac marks its official return to the top of motorsport with the experienced Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez in its ranks.
Learn more: Las Vegas will not be the final stage of Formula 1 in 2026, reveals director
- Gabriel Bortoleto starts the year as one of the pillars of the Audi project.
- Isack Hadjar takes over as a starter on the Red Bull main team.
- Cadillac brings experience to the development of its new technical equipment.
- Arvid Lindblad makes his absolute debut in Grandes Prêmios by Racing Bulls.
New format for official classification sessions
The race direction confirmed changes to the elimination system that defines the starting positions for Sunday. With the number of cars increasing to 22, Q1 and Q2 now eliminate six drivers each, keeping just ten competitors for the final battle in Q3 for pole position.
To ensure teams have enough time for tire strategies and hot laps, Q3 has been given an additional minute in length, going from 12 to 13 minutes of open track time. Essa change aims to avoid car congestion at decisive moments and allow drivers to have at least two clear time attempts without interference from traffic.
Timetables and logistics for monitoring activities
Track activities at Austrália require attention from Brazilian spectators due to the local time zone, which places the main sessions during the night and early morning hours at Brasil. The first free training session takes place on Thursday, at 10:30 pm, followed by the second training session in the early hours of Friday, at exactly 2:00 am local time on Brasília.
The qualifying that defines the grid is scheduled for Saturday, also at 2 am, while the start of the main race takes place at 1 am on Sunday morning. Rede Globo will show the race live over the air, while SporTV maintains complete coverage of all free and qualifying training sessions throughout the event schedule.
More on this story: Formula 1 confirms return of the Turkish GP to the official calendar between the 2027 and 2031 seasons
See Also
Russell larga na frente na sprint do GP da Holanda; Gabriel Bortoleto alcança nona posição
Antonelli lidera treino livre no GP da Holanda de F1; Gabriel Bortoleto encerra sessão em nono lugar
Fernando Alonso adia decisão sobre futuro na Fórmula 1 e mantém desejo de competir
Brazilians seek prominence in the support categories of f2 and f3
In addition to the main category, the Melbourne paddock hosts the opening rounds of the Fórmula 2 and the Fórmula 3, with a strong presence of Brazilian drivers looking to advance. Na Fórmula 2, Rafael Câmara makes his official debut for the Invicta Racing team after winning the F3 title, carrying the favoritism and pressure of following in the footsteps of other recent champions.
The category also has the participation of Emerson Fittipaldi Jr. by AIX Racing, consolidating another season of Brazilians in the last stage before the elite. Já in Fórmula 3, the grid features Pedro Clerot and Fefo Barrichello, who begin their international campaigns in search of points and visibility in one of the most technical circuits on the calendar.
Operational details and transmission of the youth categories
The organization confirmed that Fórmula 2 will be broadcast in full on SporTV and the Globoplay platform, allowing fans to follow the weekend’s two races. The F2 double round begins with the short race on Friday and the main race on Saturday night, respecting local times of Melbourne.
Full coverage: Fórmula 1
For those interested in Fórmula 3, the official broadcast for Brazilian territory will be done exclusively through the F1TV Pro streaming service. The access category heats take place at alternative times, with the first race being held on Friday night and the conclusion of the stage on Saturday, a few hours before the Fórmula 1 schedule.
- Rafael Câmara debuts in F2 after a dominant title in the previous season.
- Emerson Fittipaldi Jr. represents Brasil on the AIX Racing team year-round.
- Pedro Clerot and Fefo Barrichello are the national bets in the Fórmula 3 dispute.
Logistical and strategic challenges in the Albert Park circuit
The asphalt at Melbourne is known for being a semi-permanent street track, which means that grip improves considerably between the first free practice session and the final flag. Engineers need to adjust the suspension systems to deal with the characteristic undulations of the park, which will now be felt differently by the chassis of the new technical generation of 2026.
Battery thermal management and fuel consumption become crucial factors under the new regulations, especially on a track that requires constant acceleration and strong braking. Drivers will need absolute precision in the DRS zones to ensure that the use of electrical energy is efficient for both defense and direct attacks during the 58 planned laps.
Learn more: Official Formula 1 calendar for 2026 details when the season starts and the date of the Brazilian GP
Perspectives for the first round of the World Cup
Teams arrive at Austrália with little real race information, turning this Grande Prêmio into a high-speed testing laboratory for all competitors. The reliability of the new power units will be the first big test for manufacturers such as Ferrari, Mercedes,
The history of With the entry of Cadillac and the expanded grid, the battles for intermediate positions promise to be even more intense, as space on the track has become more competitive with the presence of two additional cars compared to last year.
Complete schedule of training and broadcasts for the weekend
In order not to miss any details, fans should pay attention to the schedule that starts on Thursday night and continues until the early hours of Monday with post-race analyses. The cars’ first contact with the track in FP1 sets the tone for the aerodynamic adjustment, while TL3 on Friday night is the last chance for adjustments before the official classification that defines the first pole position of the 2026 era.
Radio broadcasts and analysis programs on digital platforms complement the user experience seeking technical and behind-the-scenes data directly from the Australian paddock. The return of coverage to Grupo Globo promises to bring new perspectives and detailed analysis with experts who have followed the evolution of the sport for decades.
