The 2026 Formula 1 season will mark a new era starting with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne as the first race of the year. The upcoming season will see significant changes, including the addition of Cadillac as the 11th team on the grid and a revamp of the sport's technical regulations.

Audi will also make its debut in F1 by taking over Sauber at the end of 2025. The 2026 Australian Grand Prix weekend is scheduled to take place at Albert Park from Thursday, March 5 to Sunday, March 8. This iconic circuit in Melbourne hosted the opening round of the 2025 season, setting a new attendance record of 465,498 fans over the weekend.

CEO of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, Travis Auld, expressed excitement about being the first race of the season and promised to share ticket sale dates for the 2026 event soon. The anticipation is high among fans for the upcoming season.

The full 24-weekend calendar for the 2026 F1 season was released recently, with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix set to be the season finale on December 6. Madrid joins the list of circuits, while Italy's Imola circuit, home of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, has been removed from the calendar.

The addition of Cadillac and Audi as new teams reflects the continued popularity of F1 over the years. American automaker Ford will also rejoin F1 after nearly two decades, partnering with Red Bull for their powertrains. In the previous Australian Grand Prix, McLaren's Lando Norris emerged victorious, followed by Max Verstappen of Red Bull and George Russell from Mercedes. Local talent Oscar Piastri, who currently leads the F1 championship, finished ninth after a late spin in Melbourne.