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Have your say: What did you think of the first race of F1’s new era?

At Formula 1's season-opening Australian Grand Prix, it was immediately clear that the new cars bring with them a different dynamic. Energy management plays a greater role than before, and drivers must carefully plan their battery usage to have speed at the right moments. This opens up different strategies and battles at varying points on the track, but it also raises questions about how spectacular the race was to watch as a result.

Initial reactions in the paddock and from fans are mixed. Some see potential in the new era and expect teams and drivers to quickly learn how to better manage the systems. Others, meanwhile, feel that the greater importance of energy management makes the races artificial and detracts from pure racing.

After the first grand prix under the new rules, there are already plenty of opinions to be heard. But what did you think? Leave your thoughts in the poll below and join the discussion in the comments!

 

Photos from Australian GP - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Entertainers

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Zak Brown, McLaren

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Alexander Albon, Williams

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

The 2026 F1 drivers photo

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Sam Brabham drives a Brabham BT-19 on track

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Sam Brabham drives a Brabham BT-19 on track

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Alexander Albon, Williams

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Carlos Sainz, Williams

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Toto Wolff, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes, Toto Wolff, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Australian GP - Sunday, in photos

Formula 1
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