2026 F1 Australian Grand Prix weather forecast

In 2025, the Australian Grand Prix made F1 world championship history by becoming the first season-opener to ever start in wet conditions. 

Lando Norris survived the chaos to claim his first victory of a title-winning campaign, but is there any chance of a repeat of a rain-affected Australian GP in Melbourne this weekend?

As of 00:00 local time in Melbourne on Thursday, March 5th, there is a limited chance of rain impacting the Albert Park weekend. 

Both Friday practice and Sunday's 58-lap grand prix are set to be run in sunny conditions, with temperatures in the low-to-mid 20 degrees Celsius region. 

For Saturday's third and final practice session and qualifying, there could be overcast conditions and the chance of isolated showers as two major rain cells combine east of Melbourne. 

Of the two, one is currently making its way south from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, whilst the other is moving north off the Tasman Sea after clipping New Zealand's southern Island. 

Sydney is expected to bear the brunt, but it is possible for one or two showers to clip Melbourne. 

In terms of the wind, on Friday, it will be blowing in a north-easterly direction, before blowing north on Saturday for qualifying. 

For the race, it moves again to come from the south-east in a north-west direction, all of which should aid drivers in overtaking, as this corresponds to a headwind. 

The fast flat-out blast from Turn 6, through the kinks of Turns 9 and 10 before the heavy braking zone of Turn 11, will run into the wind, with this aiding slipstreaming.