All the key highlights from the 2026 F1 calendar

Australia performs host to the opener as soon as extra

Australia’s short-term road circuit that weaves its method by way of Melbourne’s lovely Albert Park hosted this 12 months’s season opener, having beforehand moved again to host the third spherical, and it will have that honour as soon as once more in 2026.

This 12 months’s occasion was one other step up, attracting a document weekend attendance of 465,498 – 13,443 greater than 2024 (which was a then-record).

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The 2026 season begins on March 6-8 in Melbourne – every week sooner than this 12 months, giving the groups barely much less time to work on their new machines.

And, as was the case in 2025, it’s going to run back-to-back with China, with Japan remaining as Race 3, albeit this time working as a standalone occasion. The timing nonetheless means the cherry blossoms are set to be out in drive once more at Suzuka.