Start grid and TV schedule for the 2026 Australian F1 Grand Prix
- Published on 07/03/2026 21:23
- Modified on 13/03/2026 16:57
Join us in Melbourne this Sunday, March 8 at 5:00 AM for the grand launch of the 2026 F1 season.
The 2026 F1 season kicks off this weekend in Melbourne with the Australian Grand Prix, the first round of the championship. Following an exciting qualifying session on the Albert Park Circuit, Mercedes has taken the lead by dominating the front row.
George Russell secured pole position ahead of his young teammate Kimi Antonelli, confirming expectations placed on the Silver Arrows at the dawn of this new Formula One season. The Mercedes double is even more remarkable as Antonelli had to overcome a violent crash that occurred during the third practice session. However, the mechanics managed to get the car ready in time for qualifying.
The third place goes to Isack Hadjar, the only representative of the Red Bull Racing team in Q3 after the early elimination of Max Verstappen in Q1. The Frenchman is ahead of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari, who has not hidden his frustration over the SF-26’s lack of performance.
In front of his home crowd, Oscar Piastri completes the top 5 after a solid performance. The Australian driver gained the upper hand over his teammate at McLaren Formula 1 Team, Lando Norris, who was penalized due to a damaged front wing and dropped to sixth place. The reigning world champion will start just ahead of Lewis Hamilton, in seventh.
A hierarchy still to be established
The drivers of the Racing Bulls team also made an impression by placing their two cars in eighth and ninth positions. Young Arvid Lindblad notably marked a remarkable performance in his first Formula 1 qualifying. The tenth place goes to Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto, who faced a technical issue at the end of Q2 that prevented him from fully participating in the final phase.
The situation appears more challenging at Aston Martin F1 Team: Fernando Alonso will start only seventeenth, while Lance Stroll did not take part in qualifying. Finally, misfortune continues for Carlos Sainz: with no lap time after a mechanical issue, the Spaniard will start from the back of the grid.
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The start of the Australian Grand Prix will be given on Sunday at 5 AM (French time), marking the true launch of the 2026 season.
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This page is translated from the original post "Grille de départ et horaires TV du Grand Prix F1 d’Australie 2026" in French.
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