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F1 2026 Season Opens in Melbourne With Mostly Dry Forecast

Aston Martin’s reported reliability worries sharpen the focus on early running under the new regulations.

Overview

  • Official schedule lists FP1 at 12:30 AEDT and FP2 at 16:00 on Friday, FP3 at 12:30 on Saturday, qualifying later Saturday, and lights out for the race at 15:00 local time on Sunday.
  • Forecasts point to sunshine for Friday’s practice and Sunday’s race with near-zero rain chances, while Saturday is cooler and cloudier with only a small risk of showers during FP3 and qualifying.
  • RacingNews365 notes the Saturday shower risk stems from two rain cells east of Melbourne that could briefly clip the city, with heavier weather expected elsewhere.
  • In the United States, Apple TV will carry live coverage of all Australian GP sessions, with regional broadcasters confirmed for other markets.
  • Preseason testing form has Ferrari quickest ahead of Mercedes and Red Bull, and GPFans reports Aston Martin may struggle to complete the race distance, heightening the value of practice laps.