The Formula 1 World Championship will kick off its 2026 season this weekend with the Australian Grand Prix, where Argentine Franco Colapinto will begin a new challenge at the helm of Alpine for the first race of the year. The category will start in Melbourne with the defending champion, Lando Norris (McLaren), aiming to retain his title in a season that marks the beginning of a new regulatory era. The action will take place at the traditional Australian Grand Prix, held at the Albert Park circuit, a venue that has been part of the calendar since 1996. The urban and temporary track is characterized by its high speed and features several technical zones that often lead to incidents, making it one of the most challenging circuits on the calendar. In Argentina, the broadcast will be handled by Disney+ and Fox Sports, in addition to coverage from Agencia Noticias Argentinas.
Colapinto and Alpine are ready for the debut. The pre-season concluded in Bahrain with an intensive testing program. Colapinto completed 352 laps and covered 2,452 kilometers at the wheel of the new A526, also adding private tests in Barcelona. His best time in Sakhir was 1:33.818, while his teammate Pierre Gasly achieved 1:33.421 the following day, showing an evolution in the team's performance.
