Overview
- Organisers arranged special charter flights and the FIA lifted Wednesday–Thursday paddock curfews due to force majeure, enabling delayed staff to reach Albert Park on time.
- FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said safety and wellbeing will guide decisions as officials monitor the conflict’s impact on the calendar, with doubts focused on April events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
- The 2026 reset debuts simultaneously revised chassis and power‑unit rules featuring near parity between electric and combustion power, 100% sustainable fuel and a new overtake mode replacing DRS.
- Aston Martin’s Honda‑powered cars arrive with reported reliability and parts concerns after limited testing, and team running in Melbourne may be curtailed.
- A hot‑and‑cold engine compression‑ratio check to close a perceived Mercedes loophole has been agreed but will not be enforced until June 1, potentially shaping the competitive balance through Round 7.