F1 Australian Grand Prix confirmed as first race of the 2026 championship
Formula 1's new era will begin in Melbourne after the Australian Grand Prix was confirmed as the first race of the 2026 season.
F1 will go through a massive change in 2026, with the introduction of Cadillac as the 11th team on the grid, as well as an overhaul of the sport's technical regulations.
Audi will also make their debut in F1, taking over Sauber at the end of 2025.
The 2026 Australian Grand Prix weekend will be held at Albert Park from Thursday, March 5 to Sunday, March 8.
Melbourne's Albert Park circuit hosted the opening round of the 2025 season, with the estimated weekend attendance of 465,498 becoming a new record at the venue.
"The Formula 1 calendar announcement is always an exciting moment, and in the coming weeks we will be sharing on-sale dates for tickets to the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix 2026, which we know will be eagerly anticipated," Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO Travis Auld said.
"There is something special about being the first race of the season, and we're looking forward to sharing that with hundreds of thousands of fans once again in 2026."
F1 released the full 24 weekend calendar on Tuesday, with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to be the season finale on December 6.
Madrid is the newest addition to the circuit list, with Italy's famed Imola circuit, home of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, falling off the calendar.
F1 has had 10 teams on the grid since the 2013 season.
The introduction of Cadillac and Audi as teams highlights the popularity F1 has enjoyed over the past decade.
American auto giant Ford will also rejoin F1 for the first time since 2004, partnering with Red Bull on their powertrains.
McLaren driver Lando Norris won this year's Australian Grand Prix, ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Mercedes driver George Russell.
Hometown hope Oscar Piastri, who leads the F1 championship heading into this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix, spun late and finished ninth in Melbourne.
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