First test for the 2026 F1 cars
The wait is over. The 2026 F1 World Championship is just around the corner and finally in Melbourne at the Australian GP we will see the teams show their hand after a Shakedown in Barcelona and two test sessions in Bahrain.
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Ferrari was the fastest in Sakhir with Charles Leclerc and there is great curiosity to discover how competitive the SF-26 will actually be, which in testing showed off several innovative solutions such as the ‘Macarena’ rear wing to maximize active aerodynamics (and there are five zones in Melbourne where the wings will assume the ‘straight-line’ positioning to reduce drag).
Mercedes will have to prove that it is indeed the big favorite in this 2026, but obviously watch out for McLaren and a Red Bull that as a true outsider could surprise given that it can always count on the best driver on the starting grid, Max Verstappen.
The event will be broadcast live in full on Sky Sport F1, while the Qualifying and the Grand Prix will be aired free-to-air on delay on TV8. On FormulaPassion.it you will find the live text coverage of all the sessions featuring F1 on track. Below are all the details of the schedule, the circuit characteristics, and the Australian Grand Prix hall of fame. On track alongside F1 there will also be F2 and F3.
2026 Australian GP: TV schedule and session times
Friday, March 6
22:50 F3 Free Practice (Sky Sport F1)
00:00 F2 Free Practice (Sky Sport F1)
02:30 F1 Free Practice 1 (Sky Sport F1, live text on FormulaPassion.it)
04.00 F3 Qualifying (Sky Sport F1)
04:55 F2 Qualifying (Sky Sport F1)
06:00 F1 Free Practice 2 (Sky Sport F1, live text on FormulaPassion.it)
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Saturday, March 7
01.15 F3 Sprint Race (Sky Sport F1)
02:30 F1 Free Practice 3 (Sky Sport F1, live text on FormulaPassion.it)
04:10 F2 Sprint Race (Sky Sport F1)
06:00 F1 Qualifying (Sky Sport F1, live text on FormulaPassion.it, delayed on TV8 at 14:00)
Sunday, March 8
22.50 F3 Feature Race (Sky Sport F1)
01:25 F2 Feature Race (Sky Sport F1)
05:00 F1 Race (Sky Sport F1, live text on FormulaPassion.it, delayed on TV8 at 14:00)
The characteristics of the Melbourne circuit
Length: 5.303 km
Corners: 14 (9 right and 5 left)
Race distance: 58 laps (306.124 km)
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Australian Grand Prix Hall of Fame
