After a long winter, we're finally going racing this weekend in Melbourne. Ahead of the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, Williams Team Principal James Vowles explains how the team has prepared for the weekend, his favourite things about the 2026 regulations, and whether the first race will really tell us who's fastest.

James joins Christian Hewgill on the F1 Fanzone stage at Albert Park to look ahead to a mouth-watering new season and to answer questions from F1 Explains listeners Sophie, Victoria and Karen.

And James also tells us what jobs he’d give to Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon if they weren’t drivers.

We want your questions about how Formula 1 works! Email F1Explains@F1.com

F1 Explains and F1 Nation have teamed up for 2026. Subscribe to this feed for race previews and reviews every Monday with Tom Clarkson and guests.

F1 Beyond The Grid with Carlos Sainz - out now

And the team make their pre-season predictions: who will win in Melbourne, and who will be the 2026 F1 World Champion?

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Boost your knowledge ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Christian Hewgill and F1 Correspondent + Presenter Lawrence Barretto run through the key terms and new rules of the sport's new era.

Plus we answer your questions on how drivers will recharge their brand new batteries, how the arrival of Cadillac will change qualifying and the new advanced sustainable fuel powering the new cars.

We want your questions about how Formula 1 works! Email F1Explains@F1.com

F1 Explains and F1 Nation have teamed up for 2026. Subscribe to this feed for race previews and reviews every Monday with Tom Clarkson and guests.

And check out the new season of F1 Beyond The Grid. New episodes start Wednesday 4th of March with Carlos Sainz