Feeder Series Preview: Melbourne

Written by Jasmin Low and Trisha Lynnette, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri

After several months of inactivity, Formula 2 and Formula 3 racing action return in full flow in 2026. A fresh set of drivers are ready to kick off racing action in both championships and chase the ultimate trophy. DIVEBOMB brings you all the important pointers ahead of the first race of the season in Melbourne. 

Formula 2

The Albert Park Street Circuit plays host to the F2 season-opener this weekend | Credit: Formula 2

2026 marks the 10th season of the Formula 2 championship, and with it, a new cohort of young racing talent. Australia’s Albert Park Street Circuit is the first stop on the 14-round calendar, hosting the season opener for the second consecutive year. 

Exactly half the grid holds rookie status as they enter the 2026 season, with Campos Racing being the only team to field an all-rookie lineup, featuring 2025 Formula 3 runner-up Nikola Tsolov and Noel León. Conversely, MP Motorsport have opted for an experienced lineup, placing their steering wheels in the hands of F2 sophomores Oliver Goethe and Gabriele Minì. 

For the rookies, drawing from prior experience at the circuit in F3 machinery will be crucial; however, the addition of a mandatory pit stop to the Feature Race will add an extra layer of challenge. 

Throughout its 3.280-mile (5.278 km) track layout, the Albert Park Street Circuit features 14 turns and three straights. With DRS still being a prominent overtaking aid in the category, four DRS zones are situated around the circuit. 

The first and second sectors, which take drivers around to Turn 9, make up the fastest portion of the lap, with Turns 1 and 3 being prime overtaking spots. Sector 3, which is slightly slower, also offers overtaking opportunities, with popular spots being at Turns 9 and 13. Additionally, the braking zone into Turn 11 is the heaviest of the bunch, forcing drivers to slow considerably before taking on the final part of the lap. 

Melbourne is known for experiencing four seasons in a day, and race week in 2025 was no exception. Joshua Dürksen won the Sprint Race under the blistering Australian sun, converting a strong start from the reverse-grid front row into a victory. 

Joshua Dürksen took the first victory of the season for AIX Racing | Credit: Formula 2

The tides turned for Sunday’s Feature Race, with a torrential downpour causing the session to be cancelled. Minì, who had qualified on pole, will head into this year’s race knowing he can perform well at the circuit despite not being able to go racing in 2025. 

Also experiencing success in Alert Park, albeit in another series, was Rafa Câmara who went fastest in both Free Practice and Qualifying, before claiming the top honours in the Feature Race on his debut weekend. The Brazilian steps up to F2 with Invicta Racing, following in the footsteps of Gabriel Bortoleto and Leonardo Fornaroli, who claimed back-to-back championships in F3 and F2 in 2024 and 2025, respectively. 

Despite Invicta taking the lead in recent years, the championship is all to play for, with Melbourne expected to deliver a smashing start to the season. 

Formula 3 

Credit: Formula 2 via X

Formula 3 is back in full force as the season begins in Australia. This year brings a lot of new faces on the grid. Gaining an early advantage over the competition is crucial during this Melbourne race weekend. There will be a lot of on-track action due to the numerous rookies and driver changes. Let's look at pre-season testing before the race weekend starts.

Campos maintained their impressive performance from Jerez during the three-day test in Barcelona, with Théophile Naël and Ugo Ugochukwu consistently near the top of the timesheets. Louis Sharp and James Wharton of PREMA Racing also showed remarkable speed, while Taito Kato of ART Grand Prix finished day two with the fastest time overall.

Bruno del Pino of Van Amersfoort Racing and Noah Strømsted of Trident were also constantly competitive. Hitech and DAMS, on the other hand, completed a substantial amount of mileage throughout the sessions but struggled for outright pace. As they aim to get off to a great start in Melbourne, PREMA Racing will be interesting to watch. With Sharp and Wharton consistently in the lead times, the team demonstrated an encouraging long-run pace in Jerez, finishing the most laps during the test.

With thorough preparation behind them, they will aim to convert testing form into early championship points.

Defending champions Campos Racing would be another team to look out for in Melbourne. After thriving throughout the Barcelona test and completing a solid number of laps, they head into Melbourne with confidence. Naël and Ugo Ugochukwu both demonstrated strong one-lap pace and consistency, raising the question of whether they can take an early championship lead.

Trident also impressed during testing, with Strømsted consistently near the front and rookie Matteo de Palo showing promising speed. The team will be eager to carry that momentum into the opening round.

Credit: Formula 3 via X

As for history makers, the grid once again features representation from Singapore and Thailand. Christian Ho continues to represent Singapore in the championship, while Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi flies the flag for Thailand as part of the 2026 grid.

There are both seasoned drivers and novices in this year's field. In order to place in the top ten of the championship, drivers like Ugo Ugochukwu, Naël, Sharp, and Strømsted, who have demonstrated strong speed in testing, will try to prove themselves. 

The Melbourne circuit measures approximately 5.278  km (3.28 mi) and features 16 turns. The track includes several tight corners and technical chicanes, along with heavy braking zones at Turns 3, 9 and 13. The weekend will consist of a 20-lap sprint race followed by a 23-lap feature race.

We can expect plenty of action on track, from close battles to potential incidents, although overtaking opportunities are limited due to the tight nature of the circuit. This means drivers must utilise the long straights effectively to gain positions.

With typically high temperatures in Melbourne, tyre degradation will be a key factor. Formula 3 does not usually feature planned pit stops due to the short race distances, meaning drivers must carefully manage their tyres and extract maximum performance across both races.