Overview
- Organisers confirmed the Australian Grand Prix will proceed this weekend, with freight in place and priority given to getting drivers and key staff to Melbourne.
- Airspace closures affecting Doha, Dubai and other Gulf hubs forced widespread itinerary changes, with roughly 1,000–2,000 paddock personnel rerouted or chartered on short notice.
- Pirelli scrapped a planned tyre test in Bahrain for security reasons, and the governing body placed next month’s Bahrain and Saudi rounds under close safety assessment.
- Formula 1 begins a sweeping 2026 rules reset featuring simultaneous chassis and power-unit changes, near-parity electrical and combustion output, and 100% advanced sustainable fuel.
- Competitive form remains unclear after Bahrain testing and accusations of sandbagging, as Cadillac debuts as the 11th team with Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas and Sauber rebrands as Audi, with rookie Arvid Lindblad set for his first start.