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03-13-2026LAST POST
03-04-2026

<b><span class="theme-aware-color" title="usercolor:Red"><span style="display: inline-block; font-size: 113%; line-height: 1.45;">F1 2026: Australian GP - Melbourne (Mar 8)</span></span></b>'s user avatar<b><span class="theme-aware-color" style="--user-color: Red;"><span style="display: inline-block; font-size: 113%; line-height: 1.45;">F1 2026: Australian GP - Melbourne (Mar 8)</span></span></b>


An image attached to this post, provided by the poster

An image attached to this post, provided by the poster

2025:
An image attached to this post, provided by the poster
(source: HERE)

Schedule:
https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2026/australia
(adjusts to your local time/date depending on your browsers/internet settings)

Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit:
2026trackmelbournedetailed.webp

Circuit stats:
First Grand Prix: 1996
Number of Laps: 58
Circuit Length: 5.278 km
Race Distance: 306.124 km
Lap Record: 1:19.813 (Charles Leclerc 2024)


Onboard Lap:
(2025 Lando Norris pole lap)

2025 thread:
https://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2165506

2025 race highlights:

2024 Lollipopman Comics:
03-04-2026
So welcome to the new season! :happyanim::thumsup::clap:
I just followed the tech developments half-half, as so much changed and in reality it's not until the first qualifying session that we really know what the cars are made of.
That is true between seasons with minor changes, but now.... totally new cars, totally new engines, and....totally new driving strategies for the drivers!

Anyone dare any predictions?:D:lol:

my guess:
1. RUS
2. NOR
3. VER
4. LEC
5. ANT
6. PIA
7. HAD
8. HAM
9. ALO
10. LAW

Who knows what's really gonna happen.....:D
03-04-2026
GuidoK wrote
So welcome to the new season! :happyanim::thumsup::clap:
I just followed the tech developments half-half, as so much changed and in reality it's not until the first qualifying session that we really know what the cars are made of.
That is true between seasons with minor changes, but now.... totally new cars, totally new engines, and....totally new driving strategies for the drivers!

Anyone dare any predictions?:D:lol:

my guess:
1. RUS
2. NOR
3. VER
4. LEC
5. ANT
6. PIA
7. HAD
8. HAM
9. ALO
10. LAW

Who knows what's really gonna happen.....:D
Thank you GuidoK's user avatarGuidoK :thumsup: => https://www.m3post.com/forums/showpost.php?p=32653940&postcount=994
03-04-2026
So many silly references...:lol::bellyroll

.....NightMaxes :lol:

03-04-2026
Aston Martin's Honda EV is so bad they are just going to not race apparently. *edit: not so easy

Honda should have practiced making EVs beforehand, all their EVs i've tested are rubbish.

first time ever I'm interested to watch FP1 and FP2 ...

* apparently they face severe penalty for not racing. so they have to race but will retire the car early ...

https://www.nine.com.au/sport/motorsport/f1-news-2026-aston-martin-amr26-honda-engine-problems-australian-grand-prix-20260303-p5o6zz.html
03-04-2026
GuidoK wrote
So welcome to the new season! :happyanim::thumsup::clap:
I just followed the tech developments half-half, as so much changed and in reality it's not until the first qualifying session that we really know what the cars are made of.
That is true between seasons with minor changes, but now.... totally new cars, totally new engines, and....totally new driving strategies for the drivers!

Anyone dare any predictions?:D:lol:

my guess:
1. RUS
2. NOR
3. VER
4. LEC
5. ANT
6. PIA
7. HAD
8. HAM
9. ALO
10. LAW

Who knows what's really gonna happen.....:D
Welcome back GuidoK.
Prediction for Melbourne..

1. MAX (a dead cert
2. HAD
3. LEC
4. LEW
5. RUS
6. PIA
7. NOR
8. BEA
9. ANT
10. SAI
03-04-2026
G30M wrote
Aston Martin's Honda EV is so bad they are just going to not race apparently.

Honda should have practiced making EVs beforehand, all their EVs i've tested are rubbish.

first time ever I'm interested to watch FP1 and FP2 ...
:thumbdown => https://www.m3post.com/forums/showpost.php?p=32650075&postcount=948
03-04-2026
Killed by Death's user avatarKilled by Death :cool!:
03-05-2026
Great you are back on the merry go round Guido!

I?m in the lounge waiting for my flight right now. And yes I am wearing an Aston shirt. Stiff upper lip old chap what.

As per G30?s post above I am also genuinely excited to watch practice tomorrow. My expectations are not high for Aston but I?m just curious about everyone.

I wonder if the Aston garage visits will still take place? If so, as our man in Melbourne I will post a few pics whilst cutting the air with a knife.

From what I can glean it looks like the goal is to challenge the front this year instead of the midfield which is not even on the radar for the team. So the first half of the season will be sacrificial for the greater good. The gardening leave did not help and everything is behind. Time will tell.
03-05-2026
The latest in what's happening, teams are working all through the night and Piastri is the latest to have sent a warning to when the lights change to green.
03-05-2026
He's saying that removing the MGUH which keeps the turbo spooled up and instead relying on battery power with higher engine revs is a recipe for disaster, especially for those mid pack and at the back seing an advantage when the ones at the front are saving for after the turn.
03-05-2026
Even without the 50/50 but a similar scenario which could happen.
03-05-2026
M5Rick wrote
He's saying that removing the MGUH which keeps the turbo spooled up and instead relying on battery power with higher engine revs is a recipe for disaster, especially for those mid pack and at the back seing an advantage when the ones at the front are saving for after the turn.
Alonso : The latest..

The Honda PU vibrations are so strong that it feels like an electrocution (!) :thumbdown
An image attached to this post, provided by the posterAn image attached to this post, provided by the poster
03-05-2026
Tonight was an Aston cocktail party. On the way out there was an Italian chap walking through the hotel lobby that seemed like he had enjoyed some vino. Or perhaps it was jet lag. He was nice enough to agree to a photo.

In other news, apparently our car has severe vibrations that make the car very hard to endure.

Practice tomorrow. Must sleep.
An image attached to this post, provided by the poster
03-05-2026
M5Rick wrote
Prediction for Melbourne..
I'm going with the basics - fewer than 15 cars will finish the race. Points for most of the finishers!

2 Aston Martins are vibrating self-destructing dildos. 100% attrition likely. Congrats, Newey.
2 Williams are porky and under-tested. 50+% attrition likely.
2 Audi's have brand new power-trains and are under-tested. 50+% attrition likely.
2 CadiRarri's are new and under-tested. 50+% attrition likely.
1 rookie in the field (Lindblad)
21 other drivers are still figuring out how to drive under new rules.
Super-powerful overtake mode in 2026 - more fun, but also more chance to misjudge the overtake moves.

Practice 1 starts in ~7 hours.
Let the show (chaos?) begin!

a
03-05-2026
Calling it now...Max will be champ in 2026!
03-05-2026
afadeev wrote
I'm going with the basics - fewer than 15 cars will finish the race. Points for most of the finishers!

2 Aston Martins are vibrating self-destructing dildos. 100% attrition likely. Congrats, Newey.
2 Williams are porky and under-tested. 50+% attrition likely.
2 Audi's have brand new power-trains and are and under-tested. 50+% attrition likely.
2 CadiRarri's are new and under-tested. 50+% attrition likely.
1 rookie in the field (Lindblad)
21 other drivers are still figuring out how to drive under new rules.
Super-powerful overtake mode in 2026 - more fun, but also more chance to misjudge the overtake moves.

Practice 1 starts in ~7 hours.
Let the show (chaos?) begin!

a
That's 1 AM here, I'll catch up when I arise.
03-05-2026
MoeTE87 wrote
Calling it now...Max will be champ in 2026!
I can't argue with that Moe :)
03-05-2026
Just in time for the season opener :D
An image attached to this post, provided by the poster