Formula 1 is back and ready for a new era as the start of the 2026 begins this weekend in Melbourne, Australia.
There are new rules, new cars, new teams and a whole heap of changes that make the upcoming season an exciting and, for now at least, unpredictable prospect.
Pre-season testing is done and dusted and the new engine and chassis regulations threaten to alter the pecking order in the sport. McLaren won both world championships in 2025 ahead of Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari but it is Mercedes who look strongest ahead of race one with George Russell being backed to win a first world championship title.
Yet, Lewis Hamilton has been buoyant and enters the season with hopes of an record eighth title renewed as the regulation changes and smaller cars should suit his style of driving. Should Ferrari deliver him a championship challenging car the only question remains is if the 41-year still has the race pace to outclass the rest of the field.
Elsewhere, the conflict in the Middle East has limited travel restrictions in the region with flights grounded and F1 has been forced to alter their travel plans in order to get all the teams, including new boys Cadillac, to Australia for the first week of racing.
Follow along for all the latest updates from the 2026 F1 season opener in Melbourne:
F1 news live
- The 2026 Formula 1 season begins in Melbourne this weekend
- How F1 has averted 2026 season-opening disaster in Australia amid Middle East chaos
- The new season sees a change in rules and regulations with DRS replaced
- Cadillac enter F1 and become 11th team on the grid
- New rules, new hope? Why Lewis Hamilton’s 2026 season is F1 legend’s final roll of the dice
Five contenders to replace Bahrain and Saudi Arabia if F1 races are cancelled
16:30 , Mike JonesSporting events across the Middle East have been cancelled after Iran’s retaliatory missile attacks on the region - and executives at Formula One could have a big decision to make in the coming weeks.
But should one or both of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia be cancelled, which venues could step in at short notice?
Istanbul Park, Turkey
F1 chief Stefano Domenicali hinted in a conference call two weeks ago that Turkey is set to return to the calendar next year, having not hosted a race since 2021.
Istanbul Park is a popular track with drivers and fans alike, hosting nine events since its debut back in 2005. While somewhat precariously situated on the border of Europe and Asia, it would be another safe bet to fill in next month.
Five contenders to replace Bahrain and Saudi Arabia if F1 races are cancelled
16:15 , Kieran JacksonSporting events across the Middle East have been cancelled after Iran’s retaliatory missile attacks on the region - and executives at Formula One could have a big decision to make in the coming weeks.
But should one or both of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia be cancelled, which venues could step in at short notice?
Imola, Italy
Dropped from the calendar this year, Imola would be well-placed in terms of facilities and location to step in at the last minute, despite the potential for rainfall.
Imola returned to the schedule after a 14-year absence during the Covid-impacted campaign in 2020, staying until 2025. Prior to that, it hosted the San Marino Grand Prix from 1981 to 2006 and was most infamously the track where Ayrton Senna lost his life on F1’s darkest weekend in 1994.
How F1 solved its engine controversy before new season after Mercedes loophole
16:00 , Mike JonesThe return of Formula One is now just days away with the controversy surrounding testing and a new era in the sport smoothed over somewhat just in time.
F1’s governing body, the FIA, and the sport’s manufacturers struck a deal over the engine controversy that threatened to overshadow the first race of the season in Australia.
Melbourne will host the first race of the season with the new era bringing huge challenges to teams through engine and chassis regulations.
How F1 solved its engine controversy before start of 2026 season
Nico Rosberg replaces Jenson Button as pundit on Netflix’s F1 Drive to Survive
15:42 , Kieracn JacksonNico Rosberg appears as a new pundit in season eight of Drive to Survive on Netflix, released on Friday.
The 2016 F1 world champion, who works as an expert throughout the season with Sky Sports, features in the Netflix docu-series, replacing Jenson Button – who in turn filled in for Danica Patrick last year.
Will Buxton and Claire Williams continue in their roles as pundits while Rosberg appears briefly, most notably when discussing McLaren’s intra-team title battle last season.
Rosberg, 40, is set to continue his expert role in the upcoming season, which starts with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on 8 March.
F1 urged to ban tobacco sponsorship deals amid growing youth audience
15:30 , Mike JonesMore than 160 anti-tobacco and health organisations are urging Formula One to prohibit sponsorship deals with tobacco companies promoting addictive nicotine pouches, arguing that such partnerships target the sport's growing youth audience.
Philip Morris International (PMI) and British American Tobacco (BAT) currently sponsor the Scuderia Ferrari and McLaren F1 teams respectively, featuring their Zyn and Velo nicotine pouch brands.
F1 urged to ban tobacco sponsorship deals amid growing youth audience
Has Drive to Survive run out of road? Why new season of F1’s Netflix hit falls flat
15:17 , Kieran JacksonIn hindsight, the first indication that something was slightly amiss was the Netflix episode list. Why has season eight of Formula 1: Drive to Survive – the show which has launched the sport, the streaming site and the art of the behind-the-scenes docuseries into the British public mainstream – been reduced from 10 episodes to eight?
Officially, the line Netflix gave The Independent was that “the narrative creatively lent itself to eight episodes”. And you may well say, nothing to see here. Moot point, move on. Grab the popcorn and binge away.
Has Drive to Survive run out of road? Why new season of F1 Netflix hit falls flat
What is the pecking order after pre-season testing?
15:07 , Mike JonesAfter 11 days, 22 sessions and 88 hours of pre-season testing, the next time we’ll see these new Formula 1 cars on track will be the season-opening race in Australia.
Just a few days out from the season starting, The Independent ranks the teams’ current positions from worst to best.
1st – Mercedes
The favourites at the start of testing, Mercedes remain the team to beat.
Consistently at the top of the timesheet, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli have completed a host of laps – 157 in total on Thursday – and while murmurs off track about their engine and fuel-use continue to rumble, they look the best all-round package at the moment.
“The gaps between those at the front are already incredibly small,” Antonelli said. “And down to a matter of hundredths.” If that remains, we’re in for a hell of a season.
What is the pecking order after pre-season testing?
15:02 , Mike JonesAfter 11 days, 22 sessions and 88 hours of pre-season testing, the next time we’ll see these new Formula 1 cars on track will be the season-opening race in Australia.
Just a few days out from the season starting, The Independent ranks the teams’ current positions from worst to best.
2nd – Ferrari
This week was Ferrari’s week. And that’s something we’ve not said about the Scuderia for a long time.
They brought new parts to Bahrain, including a radical flip rear wing that rotates itself upside down on Lewis Hamilton’s car on Thursday.
Charles Leclerc set the fastest time of the whole testing period on Friday, the only man in the 1:31s, while Hamilton’s practice race starts on Thursday, surging to the front from a midfield spot, were eye-catching. Optimism is slowly building.
What is the pecking order after pre-season testing?
14:57 , Mike JonesAfter 11 days, 22 sessions and 88 hours of pre-season testing, the next time we’ll see these new Formula 1 cars on track will be the season-opening race in Australia.
Just a few days out from the season starting, The Independent ranks the teams’ current positions from worst to best.
3rd – McLaren
The world champions do not have the dominance they held throughout most of the last two years. But they’re in the fight.
Of course, the papaya are using the Mercedes power unit, deemed to be the strongest on the grid. The mileage racked up by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri – who interestingly split all three days this week – was also strong and both were consistently in the top-three throughout their sessions.
McLaren proved how strong their development window was over the last few years and that’ll be a crucial element through the early months of the season.
What is the pecking order after pre-season testing?
14:52 , Mike JonesAfter 11 days, 22 sessions and 88 hours of pre-season testing, the next time we’ll see these new Formula 1 cars on track will be the season-opening race in Australia.
Just a few days out from the season starting, The Independent ranks the teams’ current positions from worst to best.
4th – Red Bull
It’s probably been the toughest of the three tests this time around for Red Bull, who shone last week with their straight-line speed and engine reliability.
This week has been less straightforward. Isack Hadjar missed a host of time on day one, while Max Verstappen was third on the timesheet despite a full day in the cockpit on Thursday.
However, the margins between the top four seem extraordinarily tight. Second on the list last week, fourth now. On the Melbourne street circuit? We shall see.
What is the pecking order after pre-season testing?
14:47 , Mike JonesAfter 11 days, 22 sessions and 88 hours of pre-season testing, the next time we’ll see these new Formula 1 cars on track will be the season-opening race in Australia.
Just a few days out from the season starting, The Independent ranks the teams’ current positions from worst to best.
5th – Haas
With teams usually keen to downplay optimism in testing, Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu readily admitted his satisfaction at where his team are positioned now.
Ollie Bearman finished sixth-fastest on Friday, on a medium tyre, and their Ferrari power unit has come alive in the last three days, particularly in light of the new starting procedure (more on that later).
What is the pecking order after pre-season testing?
14:42 , Mike JonesAfter 11 days, 22 sessions and 88 hours of pre-season testing, the next time we’ll see these new Formula 1 cars on track will be the season-opening race in Australia.
Just a few days out from the season starting, The Independent ranks the teams’ current positions from worst to best.
6th – Racing Bulls
The reliability of the Red Bull-Ford power unit has been impressive and the junior team have benefited from that.
Nothing highlights that more than Arvid Lindblad’s final day lap count: an astonishing 165 laps in total and brilliant mileage for the British rookie.
In the battle for points, RB will be right on the cusp of the top-10 in Australia.
What is the pecking order after pre-season testing?
14:37 , Kieran JacksonAfter 11 days, 22 sessions and 88 hours of pre-season testing, the next time we’ll see these new Formula 1 cars on track will be the season-opening race in Australia.
Just a few days out from the season starting, The Independent ranks the teams’ current positions from worst to best.
7th – Alpine
From fifth to seventh, there’s virtually no difference – but Alpine have been a smidge short of their rivals, both on the timesheet and lap count tally.
Unsurprisingly, Pierre Gasly has outperformed Franco Colapinto, who is under pressure after a point-less 2025 campaign. The Enstone-based team seem there or thereabouts.
What is the pecking order after pre-season testing?
14:32 , Kieran JacksonAfter 11 days, 22 sessions and 88 hours of pre-season testing, the next time we’ll see these new Formula 1 cars on track will be the season-opening race in Australia.
Just a few days out from the season starting, The Independent ranks the teams’ current positions from worst to best.
8th – Williams
Similarities to Aston, given 2026 has long been in their sights, but the progress since missing the initial Barcelona shakedown has been steady.
James Vowles justified the call to miss Barcelona by stating he is looking to “push the maximum” of what the team can produce. Still, time on track is precious.
Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz bounced back well last week, regularly clocking three figures over a single day, but the car is clearly overweight at this stage. They’ll want to be at the front of the midfield as soon as possible.
What is the pecking order after pre-season testing?
14:27 , Mike JonesAfter 11 days, 22 sessions and 88 hours of pre-season testing, the next time we’ll see these new Formula 1 cars on track will be the season-opening race in Australia.
Just a few days out from the season starting, The Independent ranks the teams’ current positions from worst to best.
9th – Audi
Overall, a relatively solid few weeks for the team formerly known as Sauber, using their own in-house power unit for the first time.
It’s to their credit, also, that they’ve made every test without delay, though racking up consistent laps has been difficult. Nico Hulkenberg believes the German team are “somewhere in the midfield” and all the data matches that, at this stage.
What is the pecking order after pre-season testing?
14:22 , Mike JonesAfter 11 days, 22 sessions and 88 hours of pre-season testing, the next time we’ll see these new Formula 1 cars on track will be the season-opening race in Australia.
Just a few days out from the season starting, The Independent ranks the teams’ current positions from worst to best.
10th – Aston Martin
What a shocker of a testing window it’s been for Adrian Newey’s team. Photos of team owner Lawrence Stroll in the Bahrain paddock, with a forlorn expression hard to eradicate, tell the story. Frankly, they are lucky not to be dead last in this table.
A testing period which started with a delayed entrance in Barcelona ended with just six laps on the final day in Bahrain before shutting up shop, with two hours to spare. It has, for a team who’ve long targeted 2026 as a year they can power Fernando Alonso to a championship charge, a chastening few weeks.
The issues are all-encompassing: the unique aerodynamics have resulted in difficult drivability, there’s been gearbox and transmission issues, but the Honda power unit takes the biscuit for the biggest problem of the lot. Their statement on Friday, detailing their inability to support “long runs” on the final day, was startling.
For the billions of investment put in over the last few years, no team has more work to do before Melbourne.
What is the pecking order after pre-season testing?
14:17 , Kieran JacksonAfter 11 days, 22 sessions and 88 hours of pre-season testing, the next time we’ll see these new Formula 1 cars on track will be the season-opening race in Australia.
Just a few days out from the season starting, The Independent ranks the teams’ current positions from worst to best.
11th – Cadillac
The first thing to note: nobody expected F1’s newest team to be anywhere else.
There’s a reason why there hasn’t been a new F1 team for 10 years; the foundations and infrastructure required to build a modern-day outfit are astronomical. But Cadillac should be praised for attending every testing day from the start and, tellingly, Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas seem satisfied with the progress so far, speaking of good balance in the car.
That being said, they have consistently been at the bottom of the timing charts and, inevitably, have encountered issues. Perez spoke in detail about the need for more downforce, in particular. Still, their addition to the grid is exciting, even if it is with one eye firmly on the future.
F1 2026 grid: Who are the drivers racing this season?
14:12 , Mike JonesMcLAREN
Lando Norris
Oscar Piastri
FERRARI
Charles Leclerc
Lewis Hamilton
RED BULL
Max Verstappen
Isack Hadjar
MERCEDES
George Russell
Kimi Antonelli
ASTON MARTIN
Fernando Alonso
Lance Stroll
ALPINE
Pierre Gasly
Franco Colapinto
HAAS
Esteban Ocon
Ollie Bearman
RACING BULLS
Liam Lawson
Arvid Lindblad
WILLIAMS
Alex Albon
Carlos Sainz
SAUBER
Nico Hulkenberg
Gabriel Bortoleto
CADILLAC (new team)
Sergio Perez
Valtteri Bottas
NOTE: italics represent new seat
Meet the British pit-stop guru leading Audi’s F1 project of a lifetime: ‘2030 is tomorrow’
14:00 , Kieran JacksonThree decades and a dozen-plus world championships into a career solely in Formula One, it was the middle of 2024 when Jonathan Wheatley decided he fancied a crack at sport’s infamous piranha club. A band of team bosses, biting and back-stabbing aplenty, which is not for the faint-hearted.
A staple of Red Bull’s formative and dominant years, known for his proficiency in leading the team’s grid-leading pit-stop crew, Wheatley has opted for something completely fresh. A new team, a new manufacturer and a new country, night and day from his old base in Milton Keynes. And all in time for a new generation of cars, in the sport’s biggest revamp of regulations in 76 years.
Meet the British pit-stop guru leading Audi’s F1 project: ‘2030 is tomorrow’
What is the weather forecast for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix?
13:48 , Mike JonesWhile heavy rainfall affected last year’s race, it currently looks like dry and clear conditions are in store for the event at the Albert Park Circuit this time around.
Temperatures are set to be reasonably mild, with light to moderate winds expected across the weekend.
For Sunday’s race the forecast indicates generally favourable conditions.
Temperatures will range from 12.8°C in the morning to 24°C at the peak of the day, with the track likely heating up to 45.4°C.
Skies will remain clear with no precipitation expected, and winds will be light to moderate, averaging 6.8 km/h with occasional gusts up to 41 km/h.
Christian Horner’s emotional reaction to Red Bull F1 axe revealed in Drive to Survive
13:37 , Kieran JacksonChristian Horner’s reaction to being sacked by Red Bull has been revealed in the new season of Drive to Survive.
Horner was one of the chief protagonists of F1’s hit Netflix docu-series, but was relieved of his duties as Red Bull team boss last summer after 20 years in charge.
Christian Horner’s emotional reaction to Red Bull F1 axe revealed in Drive to Survive
Christian Horner says ‘too much control’ led to his Red Bull sacking
13:24 , Mike JonesChristian Horner left Red Bull Racing last season after losing a power struggle and opened up on his exit during the mose recent season of Netlfix’s Drive to Survive.
“I think this was a decision that was made by Oliver Mintzlaff with Helmut advising from the sideline," Horner explained.
"I think ultimately things changed within the business, within the group. The founder died (Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who died in 2022), and after Dietrich’s death I think probably I was deemed to have maybe too much control."
Hamilton has belief in Ferrari
13:12 , Mike Jones“My belief in the team is still absolutely the same. I understand the faith in this team and what they’re capable of and that’s why I joined the team,” Lewis Hamilton said ahead of the new season.
“I knew it wasn’t going to be an overnight thing where we’d have success immediately. That’s why I signed a longer deal because I knew more often than not it’s a process.
“I feel like we’ve also learned a huge amount from last year as a team and there have been changes that we’ve made.
“I think we’re working better together than ever before so I’m excited for that moving forward.”
New rules, new hope? Why Lewis Hamilton’s 2026 season is F1 legend’s final roll of the dice
13:00 , Kieran JacksonFor Lewis Hamilton, bouncing vigorously into this weekend’s season-opener in Melbourne once again, there is another record to add to the collection.
At 41, Hamilton is about to embark on his 20th consecutive Formula 1 season. In overtaking Rubens Barrichello’s tally, the seven-time F1 world champion is now out on his own.
Of course, currently tied for titles with Michael Schumacher, that is the one leaderboard which continues to define his existence and motivation in the sport.
New rules, new hope? Why Hamilton’s 2026 season is his final roll of the dice
Lewis Hamilton feels in ‘best place personally’
12:49 , Mike JonesLewis Hamilton believes he is in the best place he has been for a long time and is excited by his prospects ahead of the new Formula One season.
The seven-time world champion endured a difficult debut season with Ferrari, failing to secure a podium as he finished sixth in the standings.
“I’ve left everything, all of last year, behind me,” Hamilton said at the second Bahrain test.
“I really felt that I spent a lot of time rebuilding over this winter, refocusing, really getting my body and my mind to a much better place.
“In general, just making sure that I’m able to arrive feeling better. And I would say I generally feel personally in the best place that I’ve been in a long, long time.
“And then with the car, I think we’ve started off quite well so far. And it’s an exciting time with this new generation of car as well, because it’s all brand new.”
Claire Williams reveals why she’s backing George Russell for F1 title
12:38 , Mike JonesClaire Williams has declared that no other driver on the Formula One grid is more deserving of a world championship than George Russell, whom she described as a "real gentleman".
Russell, aged 28, is heading into the season-opening Australian Grand Prix this Sunday as the bookmakers’ favourite.
His Mercedes team is widely anticipated to hold a significant advantage over key rivals such as Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren.
Claire Williams reveals why she’s backing George Russell for F1 title
Williams backs Russell to win world title
12:26 , Mike JonesClaire Williams added: “He hasn’t been one of those drivers where he has been at the right place at the right time. He started with Williams and unfortunately, he joined us at the hardest time for the team.
“But I always said to him: ‘Hopefully this will provide you with some real experience and resilience for the really challenging times to come when you need to dig deep to win races and win world championships.’
“He then went to Mercedes when they were not as dominant as they had been, but now things have changed, and George has been waiting patiently for this moment.
“He would be such a worthy world champion, but it is a long road to win that title, and he is going to have to get his head down and concentrate.
“But if anyone can do that, George can. He doesn’t do distractions, he is really smart and he knows what he needs to do to win the championship.
“He is absolutely on a par with his peers and if he has the car beneath him, he is ready to deliver.”
Nobody deserves F1 title more than ‘gentleman’ George Russell
12:15 , Mike JonesClaire Williams has said there is no other driver on the Formula One grid who deserves to win the world championship more than “real gentleman” George Russell.
“George has always had a world championship in him,” Williams, former team principal of the British team, told the Press Association.
“It has been a long and arduous road to get to a point where he is fully in contention, but in my mind, nobody would deserve it more.
“George has worked so hard, and his whole life has provided the building blocks for this moment.”
How son of British millionaire Lando Norris silenced naysayers to win maiden F1 title
12:04 , Mike JonesOver the course of his career, there are two longstanding gripes that have regularly been used to discredit the achievements and skillset of Lando Norris, the McLaren driver from Somerset who on Sunday reached the summit of single-seater motorsport and won the Formula One world championship in Abu Dhabi.
The first is his affluent upbringing: his father, self-made entrepreneur Adam, has a net worth estimated at £200m and was ranked 610th in the 2022 Sunday Times Rich List. He founded the company Pensions Direct in 1998 and, when Hargreaves Lansdown acquired the business, he walked away with a stake of around £187m in 2008. He then retired, aged 36, and threw all of his efforts into his son’s karting endeavours.
How son of millionaire Lando Norris silenced naysayers to win maiden F1 title
What's in store this season?
11:53 , Mike JonesThe 2026 F1 season sees McLaren’s Lando Norris defend the title he won for the first time last year.
His main rivals in 2025 were teammate Oscar Piastri, who will race in front of his home fans in Melbourne, as well as four-time champion Max Verstappen.
Verstappen’s Red Bull will be competitive again, as they always are, but will there be other challengers?
Mercedes and Ferrari both impressed in pre-season testing meaning we could be looking at a shootout between former teammates George Russell and Lewis Hamilton who now race for opposing teams.
Will Charles Leclerc prove to be the newest champion-elect and outdo Hamilton in the same car?
The answers for these questions lay in Melbourne this weekend.
F1 chief speaks out on upcoming races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia
11:41 , Mike JonesFIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has released a statement amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
He posted on Instagram on Monday: "We are in close contact with our member clubs, championship promoters, teams and colleagues on the ground as we monitor developments carefully and responsibly.
"Safety and wellbeing will guide our decisions as we assess the forthcoming events scheduled there for the FIA World Endurance Championship and the FIA Formula One World Championship. Our organization is built on unity and shared purpose. That unity matters now more than ever."
Ben Sulayem also stated the FIA is "deeply saddened by the loss of life and stand with the families and communities impacted”, hoping for "calm, safety and a swift return to stability."
Inside F1’s newest team and their £1.2bn question ahead of debut season
11:32 , Kieran JacksonThe date is 16 January 2026, the venue is Silverstone, sitting gloomy and grey in the middle of winter, and the event is a “shakedown” filming day, six weeks out from the new season.
For 10 Formula 1 teams, such routine occasions transpire without any ballyhoo.
Not, however, for the sport’s soon-to-be 11th outfit – and the first new team in 10 years.
Inside F1’s newest team and their £1.2bn question ahead of debut season
Cadillac enter Formula 1
11:21 , Mike JonesAlso new for this 2026 season is an 11th team on the grid as Cadillac make their F1 debut.
The are owned by American automotive giant General Motors and hope to make a splash on the grid this year.
They’ve turned to the experience of Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas who will drive for Cadillac in their debut year and should bring a new dimension to the race weekends.
F1 bosses take action to help staff reach Australia amid Middle East travel chaos
11:10 , Mike JonesFormula One has launched a significant logistical operation, chartering planes to transport hundreds of essential personnel to Melbourne, ensuring Sunday’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix can proceed despite widespread travel disruption.
The extraordinary measures were necessitated by airspace closures in the Middle East, which caused chaos for F1’s travelling contingent.
F1 bosses take action to help staff reach Australia amid Middle East travel chaos
What will happen to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grand Prixs?
10:58 , Mike JonesBahrain and Saudi Arabia are both slated to host Grands Prix in April, and Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the head of the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) confirmed that the FIA is closely monitoring developments.
Over the weekend, Iranian missiles reportedly struck Doha, Dubai, the Bahraini capital Manama, and parts of Saudi Arabia.
Bahrain's race is scheduled for 12 April with Jeddah following the weekend after.
Rescheduling either event would prove challenging due to the intense heat later in the year and an already congested racing calendar.
European alternatives such as Imola, France's Le Castellet, and Portugal's Portimao have been mooted as potential replacements.
However, there is no immediate indication of approaches to other circuits for the April races.
Motorsport event in Qatar postponed
10:48 , Mike JonesThe World Endurance Championship (WEC) has cancelled its season-opening race in Qatar, citing US and Israeli attacks on Iran and the subsequent closure of airports across the region, including Doha.
The decision, announced on Tuesday, casts a shadow over the motorsport calendar amid escalating geopolitical tensions.
The Qatar 1812km race was originally scheduled to take place from 26-28 March at the Lusail International Circuit, a venue also utilised by MotoGP and Formula One.
No more disruptions likely
10:39 , Mike JonesAustralian Grand Prix chief executive Travis Auld anticipates no impact on this weekend's Formula 1 season-opener at Melbourne's Albert Park from the travel issues caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
"No doubts the events of the weekend have thrown out the travel plans for the teams and F1 themselves," Auld told Fox Sports on Monday.
"F1 are experts at moving people around the world and so they've quickly rescheduled flights. I'm told, everyone's now locked in and arriving within the required timeframes, and so there'll be no impact on our race.
"But it's certainly been a busy 48 hours, particularly for F1."
How F1 has averted 2026 season-opening disaster in Australia amid Middle East chaos
10:36 , Kieran JacksonFormula One has averted a season-opening staff shortfall this weekend after chartering two planes for 500 personnel to travel to the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
With typical transit airports, such as Doha and Dubai, the hubs for Qatar Airways and Emirates respectively, closed after Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes in the Middle East, F1 and the 11 teams were forced to take extraordinary measures in order to attend the first race of the 2026 season.
How F1 has averted 2026 season-opening disaster in Australia amid Middle East chaos
Australian Grand Prix chief provides update on race after Middle East travel freeze
10:30 , Mike JonesAustralian Grand Prix chief executive Travis Auld anticipates no impact on this weekend's Formula 1 season-opener at Melbourne's Albert Park from the travel issues caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
The US and Israeli bombing of Iran at the weekend was followed by retaliatory strikes on Gulf states with the result that all activity in one of the world's main aviation hubs has ceased.
Australian Grand Prix chief provides update on race after Middle East travel freeze
F1 monitoring Middle East situation
10:18 , Mike JonesFormula 1, as a globetrotting sport, has close ties to the Middle East and says it will continue to monitor the situation in the region.
This season sees round four scheduled in Bahrain for early April and round five in Saudi Arabia a week later.
Formula 1 officials have made no plans, yet, to alter the schedule.
Tyre manufacturer Pirelli cancelled wet weather testing in Bahrain due to the conflict but staff were still stranded in Manama, which was one of the sites targeted by a drone attack.
Formula 1 hit with travel distruption after Middle East chaos
10:08 , Mike JonesTravis Auld, chief executive of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, explained the disruption to Channel Nine on Monday.
“You’re talking about teams, drivers, Formula One personnel, I’m guessing there’d be close to a thousand people that would have already booked their flights and would be landing somewhere between today, tomorrow, Wednesday – they had to all be changed,” he said.
“But a lot of people around the world are doing the same thing and so you’re competing obviously with that increase in demand, but they’ve been able to sort it out.”
Formula 1 hit with travel distruption after Middle East chaos
10:00 , Mike JonesThe opening race of the 2026 F1 season was dealt an initial blow due to the escalating crisis in the Middle East.
The Formula 1 circus was due to arrive in Australia via flight paths heading through the Middle East but the chaos and conflict in the region has grounded air traffic and made it unsafe to fly through the zone.
Luckily, most of the team cars and equipment had been shipped to Australia last month meaning the disruption has been to personnel, including some drivers, and alternate travel arrangements have been put in place to avoid the likes of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates which have been hit by Iranian missiles
F1 2026 new rules: How does overtake mode work and what is active aero?
09:50 , Kieran JacksonThe final pre-season test of the 2026 Formula 1 season takes place this week, as fans continue to learn the new rules and regulations implemented for the new campaign.
New engine and chassis regulations threaten to alter the pecking order in the sport, after McLaren won both world championships in 2025 ahead of Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari.
F1 2026 new rules: How does overtake mode work and what is active aero?
What are the technical changes?
09:46 , Mike JonesChassis and aerodynamics:
- Smaller and lighter: Wheelbase reduced by 200mm (to 3400mm), width by 100mm (to 1900mm), floor width cut by 150mm and minimum weight down 30kg (to 770kg), all designed to make the cars more agile and responsive.
- Reduced Downforce: Overall downforce reduced by ~15-30% from removed ground-effect floor tunnels.
- Reduced drag: Overall drag reduced by 40%.
- Active aerodynamics: Movable front and rear wings replace Drag Reduction System (DRS) for high and low downforce configurations, enabling extra grip and speed where the drivers need it most.
- Tyres: 18-inch wheels remain, but front tyres are 25mm narrower with rears 30mm narrower, cutting drag and minimising weight.
Power unit:
- 50/50 Split: Shift to a balanced 50% internal combustion (ICE) and 50% electric power.
- Simplified Hybrid: MGU-H removed; MGU-K power increased significantly (120kW to 350kW) for enhanced overtaking and straight-line speed.
- Sustainable Fuel: Cars will run on advanced sustainable fuel without impacting the performance.
Explaining F1's new rules and regulations
09:43 , Mike JonesRecharge
Drivers can recharge their battery, mainly in three different ways:
- Recovered energy from braking
- Throttle lift at the end of straights (lift and coast)
- When applying partial power in corners
Explaining F1's new rules and regulations
09:40 , Mike JonesActive Aero
For the first time, F1 has introduced dynamically adjustable angles for the front and rear wings, changing automatically depending on whether the driver is on a straight or in a corner.
The wings will open (reducing drag) on the straights and close (increasing downforce) in the corners, with the cars operating in X (straight) mode or Z (corner) mode respectively. It is hoped this will maximise the full usage of the car’s power through greater on-track grip.
Overall, downforce has been reduced by 15-30% for 2026, as a result of the cars losing the ground-effect floor tunnels used in the 2022-2025 regulation cycle.
Explaining F1's new rules and regulations
09:36 , Mike JonesBoost mode
This can be used by any driver in any situation and is an energy deployment tool from the ERS (Energy Recovery System), giving the driver maximum power from the engine and battery at the push of a button.
It can be used anywhere on track, in offence to aid an overtake or in defence to thwart a manoeuvre from behind.
Explaining F1's new rules and regulations
09:32 , Mike JonesOvertake mode
This will replace DRS (Drag Reduction System), the rear-wing flap mechanism which is being ditched after 15 years.
Yet the premise will be the same: overtake mode will deploy extra power to aid an overtaking manoeuvre for any car within one second of the car in front. However, there will be only one detection point on the circuit.
The power can be used all in one go – or spread over the course of an entire lap.
2026 F1 calendar in full
09:29 , Mike JonesThis is a long post so bear with us. Here’s the full F1 calendar for the 2026 season:
Round 1 - Australia
Albert Park, Melbourne - 6-8 March (qualifying: 5am GMT; race: 4am)
Round 2 - China
Shanghai International Circuit, 13-15 March
Round 3 - Japan
Suzuka International Racing Course - 27-29 March
Round 4 - Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit - 10-12 April
Round 5 - Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Corniche Circuit - 17-19 April
Round 6 - Miami
Miami International Autodrome, Hard Rock Stadium - 1-3 May
Round 7 - Canada
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal - 22-24 May
Round 8 - Monaco
Circuit de Monaco - 5-7 June
Round 9 - Spain (Barcelona)
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya - 12-14 June
Round 10 - Austria
Red Bull Ring, Spielberg - 26-28 June
Round 11 - Great Britain
Silverstone Circuit - 3-5 July
Round 12 - Belgium
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps - 17-19 July
Round 13 - Hungary
Hungaroring, Budapest - 24-26 July
Round 14 - Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort - 21-23 August
Round 15 - Italy
Monza Circuit - 4-6 September
Round 16 - Spain (Madrid)
Circuito de Madring - 11-13 September
Round 17 - Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit - 25-27 September
Round 18 - Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit - 9-11 October
Round 19 - United States
Circuit of the Americas, Austin - 23-25 October
Round 20 - Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City - 30 October-1 November
Round 21 - Brazil
Interlagos Circuit, Sao Paulo - 6-8 November
Round 22 - Las Vegas
Las Vegas Street Circuit - 19-21 November
Round 23 - Qatar
Lusail International Circuit - 27-29 November
Round 24 - Abu Dhabi
Yas Marina Circuit - 4-6 December
What is new this season?
09:23 , Mike JonesWith fresh rules incoming after a thrilling 2025 Formula 1 season, attention quickly turns to the new season and changes which could shake-up the pecking order.
New engine and chassis regulations in 2026 mean the teams – including F1’s new outfit, Cadillac – will undergo three different pre-season tests, one in Barcelona and two in Bahrain.
Then, the season gets underway with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, the sport’s traditional curtain-raiser.
The 2026 campaign will again be a 24-race season, with a street race in Madrid in September the only new event on the schedule.
Good morning!
09:10 , Mike JonesWelcome to The Independent’s coverage of the new Formula 1 season.
We’ll have all the latest news and updates throughout the day as we look ahead to the weekend and the opening race of the 2026 campaign in Melbourne.
With new cars, new rules and new teams, this year looks set to be bigger and better than ever before so there’s plenty for us to get stuck into.
Without further ado...
