Shanghai F1 Sprint Race weekend is up next and the F1 pecking order still has plenty of questions. We break down Mercedes pace, Ferrari’s threat, Red Bull’s response, Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen, and our predictions for the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix.

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The 2026 Formula 1 season is underway, and the Australian Grand Prix gave us our first real look at the new era.

In this episode, I break down George Russell’s win, Kimi Antonelli’s huge result for Mercedes, Ferrari’s encouraging pace, Red Bull’s unanswered questions, McLaren’s disappointing weekend, and the biggest talking points from Melbourne.

Was this a sign of better racing to come under the new regulations, or is it still too early to tell?

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Melbourne is here — F1 2026 starts now. And once that green flag drops, the speculation ends.

In this episode of The Ground Effect F1 Podcast, we preview the Australian Grand Prix and break down what to watch in the season opener: early pecking order clues, qualifying importance, reliability question marks, and the pressure on Oscar Piastri racing at home. Plus, we lock in our podium picks and throw out a few spicy predictions.

Hit play, then tell us: who wins in Melbourne?

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