WEEKEND WARM-UP: Australia hosts opening race of F1’s new era with plenty of questions still to be answered

Formula 1 returns this weekend for the first race of the 2026 season in Australia, with our F1 TV team ready to preview what is set to be a thrilling round.

There may not have been any on-track action yet, but there was still plenty to discuss, from the potential pecking order to line-up changes and of course, the brand new regulations.

From the power unit and aerodynamic design, to the size of the cars and adapted overtaking tools, a whole host of changes have been made to the rules, and no one quite knows how it’s all going to shake out.

Will Lando Norris be able to defend his title, or can Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri or another fresh contender launch a challenge? Is the early speculation that Mercedes are the team to beat accurate, or could another frontrunner emerge?

There’s so much for the drivers to learn before they can even consider a title charge, and for those who have moved teams, that’s an even bigger ask. Arvid Lindblad joins Racing Bulls as the sole rookie of the season, replacing Isack Hadjar who becomes Max Verstappen’s latest team mate at Red Bull.

And let’s not forget Cadillac, a new team starting from scratch with the reliable pair of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, both of whom took a year out from the sport but were enticed back by the American outfit. They’re not the only newbies, as Audi will seek to hit the ground running after completing their takeover of Sauber.

Hit go on the video player above to join Betty Glover, Jolyon Palmer, Ruth Buscombe, Juan Pablo Montoya, Lawrence Barretto and Alex Jacques as they explore these talking points and much more ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.