Despite the Iran‑US conflict and Gulf travel disruptions, all F1 teams have reached Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix. The FIA lifted weekend curfews and will monitor the Bahrain and Saudi rounds.
Middle East conflict disrupted flights to Melbourne, prompting the FIA to suspend the pre‑session curfew. Teams now have unrestricted paddock access ahead of the season‑opening Australian Grand Prix.
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Lewis Hamilton called Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and McLaren CEO Zak Brown for insight after Bahrain 2026 testing, but got no answers, leaving him uncertain about Ferrari's competitiveness ahead of the Australian GP.
The FIA has published the 2026 Australian Grand Prix press‑conference schedule, covering Thursday 5 March to Sunday 8 March and listing driver, team‑principal and podium interview slots.
Alpine has added 20‑year‑old Irish driver Alex Dunne to its Academy for 2026. After a two‑year stint with McLaren and a fifth‑place finish in the 2025 F2 championship, Dunne will race in Alpine livery with Rodin Carlin, targeting the F2 title and a future F1 role.
Oscar Piastri warned that if McLaren had arrived in Melbourne with the early‑testing version of the Barcelona‑spec MCL40, they'd likely be mid‑field or at the back, underscoring the rapid development needed to stay in the top‑four.
Sky Sports F1's expert panel unanimously picks George Russell as the 2026 Drivers' Championship favorite, but forecasts a tight and unpredictable Constructors' battle and up to ten different race winners in the new regulatory era, with bold calls for rookie success and shock podiums.
Former Alpine F1 boss Otmar Szafnauer has been appointed CEO of junior racing powerhouse Van Amersfoort Racing. The seasoned executive will oversee the team's F2 and F3 operations, leveraging his decades of Formula 1 experience to guide the development of future racing talent.
Honda concedes a delayed start is hurting its 2026 engine project with Aston Martin, as Lewis Hamilton reveals he asked himself 'uncomfortable questions' after a tough first Ferrari season. The news roundup also covers the postponement of the WEC opener in Qatar, Natalie Pinkham's return to Sky F1, and Valtteri Bottas's targets for Cadillac's debut year.
Formula 1 has extended its exclusive Australian broadcast partnership with Fox Sports and streaming service Kayo Sports beyond 2027. The deal guarantees live and 4K coverage of every session, ad-break free, for subscribers, cementing Kayo as F1's home in the crucial and growing Australian market.
F1's 2026 regulations introduce a glossary of new terms, from active aerodynamics and energy recharge strategies to controversial engine loopholes, defining the sport's most radical technical reset in decades and setting a fresh challenge for every team on the grid.
