WebegintheFormulaOneseasonawayfromhome,travellingtoAustraliaforaracethatreallymarksthebeginningofanewseason.ForusatVCARB,Melbourneiswhereallourpreparationturnsintoperformance.ItisthetripoftheyearforteamsfromEuropeandthefirstrealtestofhowfastwearecomparedtoothers.
OurOutlookOnTheUpcomingWeekend
“I’m super excited for Round 1 in Melbourne as we kick off the new season. While the winter break felt short, it was great to spend some time at home in New Zealand with friends and family to recharge and physically prepare for a demanding 2026. There’s a lot of unknowns going into this year, with new regulations and new cars, meaning we’ll be continuously learning and adapting throughout the year which is exciting for the sport. The most recent testing in Bahrain was a reflection of this; understanding the reliability of the car and Power Unit, both of which run reliably throughout the week. Preparation is key as we enter this new era in F1, so that’s the continued focus. It’s as close as possible to a home race in Australia, so I’m looking forward to meeting the local fans and feeling the atmosphere which is always really special.”
“I’m really excited to be in Australia for my debut in Formula One. Over the winter break, I’ve been training hard to be in the best shape possible; coming from F2, I think the main challenge was training my neck. We’ve been in the sim a lot which has helped me get up to speed before hitting the track. Having three different testing sessions was also really important this year, so I tried to get as much out of every lap to learn something new and get more comfortable with the car. The 2026 cars are obviously really different, I think the PU is probably the biggest change and the feedback from the driver has a bigger influence than it did do previously.
"Last weekend, I had the chance to drive at Red Bull Moto Jam in Delhi. It was a really special event, and honestly the best way to kick off the F1 season. It’s always nice when I go to India, and this time I really had the possibility to connect and thrill Indian fans, together with celebrating my Indian roots with my mum and grandparents.
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I’m now fully focused and ready for Melbourne, which is one of my favourite cities in the world. Albert Park is a really challenging circuit with high-speed corners and some heavy braking; it feels like you’re driving in a street circuit with the walls being so close. I drove here in F3 and F2 and it was exciting, so now I can’t wait to get to drive an F1 car at this iconic track. I’ve dreamt about this moment since I was a kid and it’s something I’ve been working towards my whole life, so the fact that it’s coming true is really special. I can’t wait to get started and I just wanted to thank everyone who has helped me settle in and feel as comfortable as possible so far!”
The Australian Grand Prix takes place at the Albert Park Circuit, which is a mix of a normal track and public roads in a park just outside central Melbourne. The track has a mix of public roads, which means the grip on the track changes a lot over the weekend. At the start of the weekend, the track is usually quite slippery, so the drivers have to give us feedback and we have to make quick changes to the car.
Since 1996, when the race moved from Adelaide, Melbourne has been the place where the new season starts. The park was named after Prince Albert, who was the husband of Queen Victoria back in 1864. Over time, the park has been changed into a Grand Prix track, which shows how much Melbourne loves big sports events.
Albert Park is a track that demands a lot from us:
- The track surface is different on the roads and the normal track
- The track has corners that need a car that can turn well
- The weather is usually warm, which tests how well we can keep the car cool and the tyres in condition
- There is no room for error because if we make a mistake, it can be expensive
For VCARB, this is where we see if our simulator work is correct. We can compare it to the data from the track. The first weekend of the season often sets our priorities for the few races and gives us a baseline for how fast we are.
