WHAT TO WATCH FOR: All the key points ahead of Melbourne

It’s time for the talking to stop and the action to take over as we get ready to go racing for the first time in 2026.

The 10th FIA Formula 2 campaign kicks off in Melbourne this weekend and there are plenty with a point to prove, but who will get their season off to the best possible start?

Here’s what you’ll want to keep an eye on this weekend in Australia.

Experience could tell

Melbourne is one of the venues on the 2026 F2 calendar that several drivers will not have faced before, or if they have, it has been in F3 machinery.

Those who are returning to F2 this season for their second or third year will hold an experience advantage over their rivals in several key areas that could pay dividends across the weekend.

Knowing what to expect not just from how the track ramps up over the weekend, but where the limits can be pushed to their maximum and how to handle traffic in the Qualifying session can change the course of the round.

A strong Qualifying result makes everything that comes after more straightforward, and aspects such as those mentioned above can go a long way in determining the grid on Friday.

Will those that have raced around Albert Park make that experience count, or do the rookies have a surprise up their sleeve?

On the front foot

In the nine previous seasons of FIA Formula 2, just four times at the opening round has the team that went on to win the Teams’ Championship failed to take a victory at Round 1.

The first instance was PREMA Racing not appearing on the top step in 2020, and they were followed by MP Motorsport in 2022 as well as Invicta Racing in 2024 and 2025 in not winning on the opening weekend in the season they eventually won.

Whether it be the Sprint or Feature Race, a win in the opening weekend has more often than not showcased the speed of the eventual Teams’ Champions.

Which way will the 2026 season go? Will we see a preview of what’s to come? Or will we get a surprise victor on the opening weekend that ultimately misses out on the title come the end of the year?

Tyre changes

For 2026, Pirelli has brought the Supersoft and Soft compound tyres for the opening round in Melbourne.

It means there is no step between the choices as there was last season, when the yellow-marked Medium tyre was brought alongside the purple-walled Supersofts.

While the Supersoft tyre will offer an advantage at the start with its better grip from launch at lights out, the longer peak life of the Soft tyre will enable drivers to attack more.

Those that can save and manage their rubber will carry an advantage into the second half and latter stages of any stint.

What changes will the tyre choices bring to the racing in 2026? We aren’t far away from finding out.