The Australian Grand Prix Watchlist

Five key things to know as we get set for the Australian Grand Prix

Published

04 MAR 2026

Est. reading time

3 min

After almost three months of waiting, Formula 1 is finally back. The 2026 season opener takes us down under once more for the Australian Grand Prix.

There’s plenty for Atlassian Williams F1 Team fans to get across as we head into round one – here are five key themes to watch this weekend.

A new era

And we’re not just talking about our stunning 2026 Team Kit (you can check that out here).

This season ushers in one of the most dramatic technical revolutions in F1 history. New power units, new aero philosophy, and a completely different way of racing.

Active aero, overtake mode and energy boost are just three of the buzzwords you’ll hear across the paddock – and we’ve broken them all down in full here.

The cars are lighter, shorter and narrower than their 2025 predecessors, while power is now split almost 50:50 between the internal combustion engine and hybrid systems.

22 in ’26

There’s a new team on the grid this season as we welcome Cadillac to the paddock, and with 22 cars comes a revised qualifying format.

Six drivers will be eliminated from the 18-minute Q1 session, with a further six dropping out during the 15-minute Q2 phase. The top 10 then progress to a slightly extended 13-minute Q3 shootout for pole.

More cars, more jeopardy, and – especially in Q1 – more traffic to negotiate.

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Carbono are ready

The new regulations hand drivers more control than ever, with energy management now central to performance across a lap.

Carlos and Alex completed 790 laps of reliable running across six days of official pre-season testing in Bahrain, building a solid foundation ahead of Melbourne.

Now, the FW48 heads to the streets of Albert Park for the first time.

The Albert Park Circuit is a high-speed parkland venue laid out on public roads. Gone is DRS and its previous four zones here – replaced by five “straight mode” zones.

These are located on the pit straight, between Turns 2 and 3, Turns 5 and 6, along the lakeside stretch between Turns 8 and 9, and finally between Turns 10 and 11.

Unlike DRS, straight mode is available every lap to every driver, activating the front and rear wing aero surfaces to reduce drag.

Alex and Carlos are ready to go...

Sophomore season

Alex and Carlos aren’t the only Williams drivers in action this weekend.

Our Driver Academy representation comes in the form of Alessandro Giusti, who begins his second season in Formula 3 in Melbourne.

The 2022 French F4 Champion will be looking to build on a consistent 2025 campaign that included two F3 podium finishes – and you can read more about his weekend ahead here.

Together we race

Our base in Fed Square...

We’re passionate about making sure as many people as possible can experience this incredible sport – and with Williams, you don’t even need a Grand Prix ticket to do just that.

If you’re in Melbourne this weekend, drop by our Fan Zone presented by Kraken at The Atrium in Fed Square for an experience you won’t forget.

And as part of our commitment to bringing F1 to the masses, we’re also running a simultaneous Pop-Up back in the heart of London – check us out at Outernet.

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The Australian Grand Prix Watchlist

Five key things to know as we get set for the Australian Grand Prix

ARTICLE

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4 MAR 2026