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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 08: George Russell of Great Britain driving the (63) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W17 leads Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (16) Scuderia Ferrari SF-26 and Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Scuderia Ferrari SF-26 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit on March 08, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

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MOTORSPORTComments
opinion
New F1 cars are overtaking common sense

The skill of the driver, the balance of the car, tyre management, race craft and timing, that’s where the magic happens. When drivers rely on artificial boosts, it can begin to feel manufactured.

Mitchell Johnson

Teenager Kimi Antonelli took to a scooter before qualifying fastest for the Chinese Grand Prix. (AP PHOTO)

MotorsportPremiumTeenager Antonelli becomes youngest F1 pole-sitter

Kimi Antonelli stepped up when his Mercedes teammate George Russell hit trouble in qualifying to become the youngest-ever driver to earn an F1 pole position.

Staff Writers

Next month’s Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Formula 1 Grand Prix events are set to be cancelled.

MOTORSPORTFormula 1 to take drastic action due to Middle East war

A major broadcaster believes there are no options and the decision will be made public on Sunday night.

Alan Baldwin, Reuters

The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix, won in 2025 by Oscar Piastri, are set to be cancelled. (AP PHOTO)

MotorsportPremiumFormula One set to cancel Bahrain and Saudi Grands Prix

The two upcoming Formula One races, scheduled for the Middle East in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, are set to be cancelled because of the conflict in the region.

Alan Baldwin

George Russell has led a Mercedes one-two in qualifying for the Chinese F1 GP sprint in Shanghai. (AP PHOTO)

MotorsportPremiumRussell secures sprint poll in China, Piastri fifth

Mercedes, and in particular, George Russell has begun in Shanghai where he left off almost a week ago in Melbourne.

Philip Duncan

Oscar Piastri has put the disappointment of the Australian Grand Prix in his rear-view mirror. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

MotorsportPremium'One to forget': Piastri optimistic after false start

It hasn't taken Oscar Piastri long to put the misery of his season-opening home-race crash behind him as he targets a much better weekend in China.

Ian Chadband

Oscar Piastri was despondent after his Melbourne calamity but has a chance to bounce straight back. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

MotorsportPremium'Strong' Oscar urged to hit back after home GP calamity

Oscar Piastri is being tipped to bounce back strongly from his Australian Grand Prix disappointment -- just as he did last year in China.

Ian Chadband

Jensen Herbert and Ben Searcy corner in the Quaranup Rallysprint.

Revved up PremiumReturn of Albany Rallysprint brings tough competition

Tarmac Events’ annual rally racing extravaganza returned to Albany over the Labour Day long weekend, with drivers tackling both the windy road to Camp Quaranup and the hill climb up Mt Adelaide.

Jacki Elezovich

Team McLaren say they're right behind Oscar Piastri following his Australian Grand Prix disaster. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

MotorsportPremiumMcLaren back Piastri, but catching up won't be easy

McLaren believe Oscar Piastri will bounce back stronger from his Australian nightmare, but circumstances may make it hard for the team to catch Mercedes.

Scott Bailey

Reigning champion Lando Norris has warned of 'horrible' consequences from F1's new changes.

MotorsportNorris warns something will go horribly wrong in new F1

Lando Norris has warned a car could end up flying over a fence under Formula One's new regulations, with Max Verstappen also doubling down on criticism.

Scott Bailey

Mercedes have made the perfect start to the F1 season, finishing one-two in Melbourne. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

MotorsportPremium'Lucky' Mercedes expect Ferrari title fight

George Russell doesn't expect Mercedes to have things all their own way in the Formula One title race, despite a one-two finish in Melbourne.

Shayne Hope

Oscar Piastri's Melbourne grand prix has turned into another home visit he'd rather forget. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

MotorsportPremiumCurse confirmed: History of Aus F1 GP horror stories

Oscar Piastri's failure to reach the start line of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix marked the latest in a long run of nightmare home races for the locals.

Scott Bailey

Oscar Piastri has crashed his F1 car before the GP has even begun.

Formula 1VideoPremiumPiastri crashes out before formation lap for grand prix

Oscar Piastri is set to miss his home grand prix, after crashing his McLaren on the lap to the grid at Albert Park.

Scott Bailey

Brodie Kostecki has continued his impressive weekend, also winning Sunday's Supercars race. (PR IMAGE PHOTO)

MotorsportPremiumFeeney loses title lead in massive Supercars smash up

Broc Feeney is one of three drivers forced to retire in a first-corner crash, as Brodie Kostecki takes the Supercars title lead with victory in Melbourne.

Scott Bailey

Lando Norris smiled for the fans but he's far from happy with the new Formula One cars. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

MotorsportPremiumIt sucks: F1 season starts with new cars in spotlight

Lando Norris claims Formula One's new cars are the worst the sport has had, unhappy with them ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.

Scott Bailey

Max Verstappen was left to contemplate a spot at the rear of the grid after crashing in qualifying. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

MotorsportPremium'Very weird': Verstappen licks wounds after crash

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen will start the Australian Grand Prix from the back of the grid after crashing out during qualifying.

Shayne Hope

Home hope Oscar Piastri has qualified fifth for the Australian grand prix in Melbourne. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

MotorsportPremiumPiastri faces uphill battle as Mercedes claim front row

Oscar Piastri will need to defy history to win the Australian Grand Prix after George Russell led a Mercedes front-row lock out and left the local hope fifth.

Scott Bailey and Shayne Hope

Cadillac have become Formula One's first new team in 10 years by joining the grid in Melbourne. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

MotorsportPremiumWhy life won't be easy for F1's new star-studded team

Cadillac enter the Formula One grid with one of the best driver pairings of any new team this century, but it could take years for them to be competitive.

Scott Bailey

Broc Feeney won the third race of Supercars' Melbourne SuperSprint. (PR IMAGE PHOTO)

MotorsportPremiumFeeney retakes title lead in dramatic Supercars race

Broc Feeney is back atop the Supercars championship after the third Melbourne SuperSprint race, which featured a number of clashes and two safety cars.

Scott Bailey

Kimi Antonelli praised Mercedes' mechanics after qualifying second for the Australian GP. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

MotorsportPremiumAntonelli rollercoaster leads to front of Aus GP grid

Kimi Antonelli almost didn't make it out of the pits for Australian Grand Prix qualifying, but capitalised on a red flag to give Mercedes a front-row lockout.

Shayne Hope

Brodie Kostecki has made it two-from-two for the Supercars weekend in Melbourne. (PR IMAGE PHOTO)

MotorsportPremiumKostecki's huge weekend continues at Albert Park

Brodie Kostecki has won his second straight race at the Melboune SuperSprint, while Matt Payne extended his Supercars championship lead in second.

Scott Bailey

The smiles in Melbourne from Aston Martin boss Adrian Newey have been few and far between. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

MotorsportPremium'Powerless' Aston Martin might not start Aus GP

Aston Martin face a fight just to put a car on the grid at the Australian Grand Prix amid troubles they've laid squarely at the feet of engine partner Honda.

Shayne Hope

Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Scuderia Ferrari looks on during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Australia.

Formula oneCommentsPremiumCroft hopes Ferrari can help Hamilton, Leclerc rebound

Esteemed Formula One commentator David Croft hopes Ferrari have learnt from the mistakes of yesteryear and provided star drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc with cars deserving of their talent.

Ben Smith

Reserve driver Jack Doohan arrives at the track for Haas in the Australian Grand Prix. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

MotorsportPremiumTwisted and dark: Aussie opens up on F1 axing

Jack Doohan has detailed the hurt of his 2025 axing from Alpine, with the Australian believing his fate was sealed before he really had a chance to race.

Scott Bailey