2026 Melbourne Formula 3 round
Motor racing event
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2026 Melbourne FIA Formula 3 round was a motor racing event held between 6 and 8 March 2026 at the Albert Park Circuit. It was the opening round of the 2026 FIA Formula 3 Championship and was held in support of the 2026 Australian Grand Prix.
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
5.278 km (3.280 mi)
| Round details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 of 9[a] in the 2026 FIA Formula 3 Championship. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Albert Park Circuit Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Course | Temporary street circuit 5.278 km (3.280 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sprint Race | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Feature Race | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Report
Classification
Qualifying
Qualifying was held on 6 March 2026, at 14:00 local time (UTC+11).
Notes:
- ^1 – Matteo De Palo failed to set a time within the 107%-mark after his fastest lap time was deleted due to him being the sole cause of a red flag during qualifying. He was given permission from the stewards to start both races at the back of the grid.[2]
Sprint race
The sprint race was held on 7 March 2026, at 11:15 local time (UTC+11). Originally scheduled for 20 laps, the race was red-flagged on lap eight due to James Wharton and Louis Sharp colliding, with the results taken from lap seven. As more than 25% but less than 50% of the scheduled race distance was completed, reduced points were awarded to the top five finishers.[3]
Notes:
- ^1 – Louis Sharp received a ten-second time penalty for causing a collision with Prema Racing teammate James Wharton. This demoted him from 8th to 16th.[5]
- ^2 – Louis Sharp set the fastest lap and would have scored the point for it, but later received a ten-second time penalty for causing a collision. This dropped him out of the top ten, making him ineligible to score the point. James Wharton would have scored the point for setting the fastest lap among those finishing in the top ten, but as less than 50% of the scheduled race distance was completed, he was not awarded the point for it.
Feature race
The feature race was held on 8 March 2026, at 08:50 local time (UTC+11).
Notes:
- ^1 – Théophile Naël received a five-second time penalty for a false start.[7]
- ^2 – Noah Strømsted was given a ten-second time penalty for causing a collision with Nicola Lacorte.[8]
- ^3 – Nicola Lacorte was handed a five-second time penalty for a false start. After the race, Lacorte also received a ten-second time penalty for failing to activate the start set-up procedure. This demoted him from 19th to 25th.[9][10]
- ^4 – After colliding in the sprint race, Prema Racing teammates Louis Sharp and James Wharton both withdrew from the feature race.[11]
Standings after the event
|
|
Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.
See also
Notes
- At the time of the event Formula 3 planned to hold 10 rounds.
- Originally scheduled for 20 laps, the race was red flagged and not resumed on the eighth lap after James Wharton and Louis Sharp collided.
- Louis Sharp set the fastest lap and would have scored the point for it, but later received a ten-second time penalty for causing a collision. This dropped him out of the top ten, making him ineligible to score the point. James Wharton would have scored the point for setting the fastest lap among those finishing in the top ten, but as less than 50% of the scheduled race distance was completed, he was not awarded the point for it.
