Formula 1’s new-look cars make their racing debut in the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday – with even more focus than normal set to be on the start itself and the crucial early moments of the 58-lap race from 4am.
The 2026 challengers, which have been built to completely-overhauled chassis and aerodynamic rules, also feature revised hybrid engines which place different demands on drivers – including the approach to the start of races.
Drivers now must rev their engines higher, and for longer before accelerating away at ‘lights out’ – a new requirement which Ferrari noticeably aced in practice starts during Bahrain testing.
To account for the new high-revving requirements, a new five-second ‘pre-start’ procedure has been introduced by the FIA at the end of the formation lap before the usual five-red-lights starting sequence begins.
Pre-season championship favourites Mercedes dominated qualifying to lock out the grid’s front row with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli and are theoretically in position to control Sunday’s race from the front.
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Qualifying highlights for the Australian GP from Albert Park
But could Ferrari’s getaways prove an ace card for the Scuderia as they bid to make up for a qualifying session which saw Charles Leclerc qualify fourth and Lewis Hamilton seventh?
Leclerc played down the prospect of a repeat of the wild variability seen through the field in the starts in Bahrain last month but did admit that he and Hamilton – whose Ferraris features a smaller turbo than rivals, which takes less time to spin up – will find it easier to get in the “optimal window for the start” than others.
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McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was left ‘stranded’ on the track before Lewis Hamilton once again aced the practice start in his Ferrari
“It was a bit chaotic, the start in Bahrain,” Leclerc, who shares row two with Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, told Sky Sports F1.
“I don’t think it will look like that [on Sunday]. When everybody is in their optimal window for the start, there’s not that much between the cars.
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Charles Leclerc discusses whether Ferrari have an advantage over their rivals at the race start, before Jenson Button and Martin Brundle preview how things could play out on Sunday
“It’s kind of easy for us to reach that optimal window for the start.
“I believe it’s harder for others to reach that optimum window, so it might be more tricky for them. But if they do everything perfect, I don’t expect them to struggle at all.”
What to expect from F1 2026’s first start?
Sky Sports F1’s Jenson Button:
“The start is going to be exciting. They could be five abreast into Turn One.
“Looking at testing, [Ferrari] had a big advantage off the line. But it’s not just [about] the start, it’s the pit stops too.
“I reckon Ferrari, Charles Leclerc will be P1 at the start of the race!”
‘Now the most simple things are challenging’ – Russell sees ‘challenges’ in bid for win
After sweeping to pole position on Saturday by almost eight tenths of a second, Mercedes are clearly the big favourites to convert their front-row lockout into what would be a first victory in a season-opener since 2021.
But polesitter Russell said he was not getting ahead of himself given how the complexity of the new power units could impact a driver’s race – including, even, in pit stops.
“The goal for us right now is to just try and make the finish line because we honestly don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Russell, aiming to win the Australian GP and lead the world championship for the first time.
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George Russell and his Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff were thrilled after securing a dominant pole in the season opener
“The most simple things that we’ve been dealing with over the past years, such as pit stops, are now really challenging with all the procedures, getting the engine in the right window, the turbo speed spinning enough, the battery not too low but not too high, race starts, we’ve seen our challenge.
“So, I think the goal for us was just to have a clean weekend. Of course we want to win, we want to be on board, we want to dominate the weekend, but it’s a really long season and we need to get through tomorrow and just have a clean race because at any point you can stumble and that could be the end of your day.”
Sky Sports F1’s Australian GP schedule
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As Formula 1 enters a new era, Tate McRae’s GRAMMY-nominated Just Keep Watching will become the new title track for Sky Sports’ F1 coverage this season and beyond
Saturday March 7
9.45pm: F3 Feature Race*
Sunday March 8
12.20am: F2 Feature Race*
2.30am: Australian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
4am: THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX*
6am: Australian GP reaction: Chequered Flag*
7am: Ted’s Notebook*
7.55am: Australian GP race replay*
10am: Australian GP highlights (also on Sky One)*
*Also on Sky Sports Main Event
Watch every race of the 2026 Formula 1 season live on Sky Sports, starting with the Australian Grand Prix from this Sunday. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
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