australia

The Formula 1 circus has returned from its winter hibernation and the 2026 season begins in Melbourne — where the coffee is strong, the fans are louder than the engines, and the race has a long tradition of producing absolute chaos before half the teams have figured out their new cars.

This year’s opener already looks spicy. Mercedes has shown unexpected pace, Cadillac begins its debut season from the back of the grid, and the biggest shock of all is that Max Verstappen — usually the safest pick in modern Formula 1 — suddenly looks like a wildcard after a messy start to the weekend. For a picks competition, that’s perfect: the first race of the year is already a strategic minefield.