PREVIEW: 2026 starts down under in Melbourne

The 2026 FIA Formula 3 season is upon us with the paddock having made the trip to Melbourne for Round 1 around the Albert Park street circuit.

30 drivers and their teams will be eyeing a strong first race weekend of the year, as the battle to be crowned champions begins.

So before we get going in Australia here is everything you need to know…

WHAT TO EXPECT

For many drivers, team members and fans, Melbourne is the race weekend they look forward to the most, and there will be a lot of anticipation to get out on track for Free Practice on Friday.

That first 45-minute session starts at 08:50 local time, kicking off the day’s action before Qualifying later at 14:00 local time.

That pole position shootout will set the grid for both races, the first being Saturday’s Sprint which is scheduled to start at 11:15 local time.

Lights out for the first Feature Race of the season is set for 08:50 local time on Sunday morning. Who will conquer the streets of Melbourne and claim an early statement victory?

FAST FACTS

• There is a 66% win-rate in the Feature Race from pole position – with Gabriel Bortoleto having won from P1 in 2023 and Rafael Câmara doing the same in 2025.

• This year’s grid is made up of 13 returning drivers and 17 rookies.

• Noah Stromsted is the highest ranked of the returning drivers from 2025 having finished sixth in the Standings.

• On Formula 3’s previous three visits for Melbourne, TRIDENT have taken pole position on each occasion – with Bortoleto in 2023, Leonardo Fornaroli in 2024 and Câmara in 2025.

• There are four DRS zones around the Albert Park circuit, the most of a single track on the F3 calendar

FROM THE GRID – James Wharton, PREMA Racing

“I think the best place to overtake is probably Turn 9 into the fast chicane or Turn 12, which is another DRS zone, because we have four this weekend.

“The toughest part of the weekend though is probably the lack of driving in Free Practice. It's a street track where the evolution is massive. So going from the first lap of Free Practice to Qualifying there is a massive step with the track evolution. So to be on the limit is very, very difficult.

“Melbourne is my home and my whole family and friends will be there, and it just brings back a lot of memories of when I first started racing. But at the same time, it's a race weekend where I probably put the most pressure on myself to do a good job. I want to do a good job in front of the home crowd and my mum and dad.”

TECHNICAL PREVIEW

Pierre-Alain Michot, FIA Formula 3 Technical Director

“It is good to be back in Melbourne for the first round of the 2026 season. A year ago we came to Australia with brand new cars, and now one year later the teams will know these cars a lot better than they did at that point, which should make this weekend, and also the season, even more competitive.

“Melbourne is a challenging street circuit, where the teams will have to find the right balance between maximising their top speeds on the four DRS zones, while also recognising the need for downforce with many medium to high speed sections.

“How the teams plan for Qualifying this year will also be interesting. Last year a few teams used a different strategy to get their drivers to set flying laps on an emptier track. TRIDENT did this and sealed a front row start for Sunday. Let us see what the teams do this weekend.”

PIRELLI PREVIEW

The Medium compound has been confirmed for the opening round of the Formula 3 season. Drivers will tackle the Melbourne street circuit using the middle compound in Pirelli's range, and there are several factors to consider.

The tyres may be prone to graining, a common phenomenon at this venue in Australia, which could require careful management in the closing laps to maintain consistent performance levels.

Drivers will also need to keep overheating under control on the very smooth surface, which is largely made up of public roads that are usually open to traffic.

Drivers must avoid pushing the tyres to their limits too early in the race, as this could compromise the final stages of the competition, particularly if temperatures are higher than last year, when the weekend was heavily affected by rain.