After lively qualifying in Melbourne, the 2026 Formula 1 season is about to truly begin with the start of the Australian Grand Prix.
Read more Disaster for Oscar Piastri: crash even before the start of the Australian Grand Prix
The wait is coming to an end for Formula 1 fans. After several days of testing and a particularly eventful qualifying session, the time has come to get down to business with the start of the Australian Grand Prix.
This first race of the season also marks the true baptism of fire for the new generation of single-seaters introduced in 2026. Between new technical rules, unprecedented energy management, and a still uncertain hierarchy, many questions surround this opening round.
The start will be given at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne, one of the most iconic street circuits on the F1 calendar.
Mercedes on the front row
The starting grid is dominated by Mercedes, which delivered an impressive performance during qualifying.
George Russell will start from pole position, joined on the front row by his teammate Kimi Antonelli. The German team struck hard by relegating the competition to several tenths of a second. But the race could be much more open than it seems.
Behind the two Mercedes, several major teams hope to play the spoiler. Red Bull Racing, Ferrari, and McLaren all have drivers capable of fighting for the podium.
Read more 2026 F1 Driver Rankings
On a street circuit where safety car interventions are frequent and where energy management will be decisive, the hierarchy could quickly evolve over the 58 laps of the race.
The Grand Prix start time
The start of the 2026 Australian Grand Prix will be given at 17h00 local time in Melbourne. For European fans, this means a particularly early wake-up call: 0h00 French time.
This first round of the season promises to be particularly unpredictable. The new 2026 single-seaters introduce major changes in how energy is exploited and race performance is managed.
Qualifying has already shown significant gaps between some teams, but battery management, strategy, and reliability could play a decisive role over the duration of a Grand Prix.
Furthermore, the Albert Park circuit is known for producing lively races, with frequent incidents and strategies often disrupted by neutralizations.
With Mercedes in an ideal position but several rivals ready to take advantage of the slightest opportunity, this first race of the 2026 season could hold many surprises.