P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The 2026 F1 season gets under way with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, and the odds are changing fast ahead of the big showdown at Albert Park.
The 2026 F1 season kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, and the odds are fluctuating rapidly ahead of the race at Albert Park. Just a few weeks ago, it seemed like Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari were completely out of contention after a disappointing 2025 season at Maranello. However, Bahrain testing showcased significant potential in Ferrari’s new SF-26 car, putting Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc back in the running for victory. Ferrari’s strong performance in testing, including innovative design features, has propelled them into championship contention.
Despite Mercedes still being perceived as frontrunners, there is controversy surrounding their engine compression ratio trick, which will only be allowed until June 1. George Russell is expected to shine in Melbourne if Mercedes delivers its anticipated performance in qualifying. Max Verstappen and Red Bull face competition as they embark on a new power unit project with Ford, potentially putting them slightly behind in the early stages.
Lando Norris and McLaren have shown promise, setting the fourth-fastest testing time despite using a Mercedes power unit. Questions remain about the true speed of each team, with speculation about Mercedes ‘sandbagging’ until the actual qualifying session. The Australian Grand Prix weekend begins on March 6 with Practice, followed by Qualifying on March 7, and the race itself on March 8. US viewers will see a switch from ESPN to Apple TV for coverage, while Sky Sports retains broadcasting rights in the UK.
