It's finally spring time and I can catch some break from this depressingly cold winter, just as things are getting "hotter" and more interesting in the motorsports world also. Last weekend we saw first race of 2026 MotoGP and this weekend it is time for Australian Grand Prix, the traditional season opening F1 race at Albert Park.

2026 brings lots of changes in Formula 1 - two new teams - Audi and Cadillac, completely new car formula with reduced size, downforce and tyre width, and different powertrains - the V6 turbo engine is retained, but this year its output is drastically reduced (from around 850 hp to 540 hp) in exchange for beefed up electric drive which now will produce up to 470 hp.

Sadly, this means the already far too reliable engines will become even more reliable, barring some electrical glitches that, no doubt, are inevitable for relatively untested systems.

Team Cadillac will use Ferrari engines, with plans for developing their own powertrain before 2029. Audi, having purchased Sauber in 2024, will finally race under their own name and with a car that truly is Audi with unique Audi powertrain.

Not everything is bad news from the regulations department - along with reduced size which will yield less downforce and slow cars down, 2026 formula allows for 30 kg less weight, a small but not insignificant silver lining in what appears to be effort to facilitate close racing and overtaking, something that FIA always seems to be striving for but never quite delivering in full capacity.

2026 calendar will include 24 races, same as before, with the last race taking place in early December - not in freezing cold Europe, of course, but in warm and sunny Abu Dhabi, assuming Middle East will still exist by late 2026.