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
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...
