Australian Grand Prix 2026 ultimate guide: David Croft tips Oscar Piastri to end Australia's 46-year F1 title drought
Updated . First published at
Leading Formula 1 commentator David Croft has tipped Oscar Piastri as the early favourite to claim the 2026 world championship.
The prediction follows a 2025 campaign where Piastri commanded the drivers' standings for the majority of the year before a challenging six-race slump in the final third of the season saw his advantage slip.
A combination of dwindling form, some questionable strategy calls, and a string of misfortune allowed Piastri's McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, to overhaul him and snatch the title.
READ MORE: Exiled $700k's Eels stubborn demand torpedoed Lomax deal
READ MORE: Cheika reveals what he's really doing at the Roosters
READ MORE: Players run off court, charged $8k to flee Middle East
McLaren's Oscar Piastri is interviewed by David Croft upon arriving in the paddock for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Hector Vivas via Getty Images
Norris ultimately sealed the title at the season finale in Abu Dhabi, fending off Red Bull's Max Verstappen by a razor-thin two-point margin to transform his late-season momentum into a maiden world title.
The result saw Piastri finish third in the overall standings, 13 points shy of Norris.
Despite the heartbreak, his effort remains the most significant title challenge by an Australian in over four decades, harking back to Alan Jones' historic 1980 triumph.
Speaking at Kayo's motorsport season launch on Tuesday, Croft predicted that Piastri's rapid rise has set the stage for 2026 to be the year the Melburnian converts his potential into the world championship trophy.
"If you're going to press me, Oscar is the guy that I think will be a world champion at the end of this year because of the way that he's improved in the past, and because of the way he ran Lando, who's had a few more seasons, so close last year," he said.
"Last year wasn't great in terms of that run of six races, from Baku onwards. He will have learned how to adapt to a lower grip track that doesn't necessarily suit his driving style to come away with better results for this year.
Oscar Piastri at the Mexican Grand Prix. Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images
"I'm sure he has left no stone unturned in finding ways to improve during the course of this [off-season].
"[Piastri] is a world champion in the making. He has all the attributes to be a fine world champion and has displayed in his second and third seasons an ability to learn and improve from his previous seasons."
However, Croft believes the title race will be the most fiercely contested in recent memory.
With four teams breaking away at the front during pre-season testing, the grid is primed for a season-long scrap for the crown.
"Realistically, there are six that could do this," he said of the drivers in the mix.
"I've got six [favourites], to be honest, because I think the top four teams — Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull in that order coming out of testing — have six drivers that realistically have an opportunity to become champion."
McLaren's Oscar Piastri, Cadillac's Sergio Perez, and Williams' Alex Albon practice launch procedures during pre-season testing. Mark Sutton/ Formula 1 via Getty Images
The renowned voice of F1 also identified McLaren as a potential dark horse at this weekend's Australian Grand Prix, noting that the team ran an older-specification engine throughout testing.
With a fresh new-spec power unit arriving in Melbourne, the upgrade is expected to bridge the gap to Mercedes — and potentially even leapfrog them.
"It's a power circuit, and Ferrari seems to have a smaller turbo than other cars, and that might not help them so much at a power circuit," Croft said.
"I think it's Mercedes, McLaren, Red Bull, probably in that order.
"But McLaren has got the new-spec engine that they didn't have [during] testing, so they might be on par with, if not better than, Mercedes."
But Croft is bracing for a season of constant flux.
As F1 ushers in a new technical era, the battle for the constructors' championship is expected to hinge on which team can most effectively develop throughout the campaign.
"It's going to be a really exciting season," he said.
"One team might start better than the others. Others will then catch up.
"I think we're going to go all the way to the final couple of rounds before we find a champion.
"Don't ask me who that champion is going to be, because I really do not know."
Lando Norris prepares to lead the field in his McLaren MCL39 during the 2025 Australian Grand Prix. Getty
Here is everything you need to know about the Australian Grand Prix 2026:
When is the Australian Grand Prix?
The Australian Grand Prix unfolds across four days, from Thursday, March 5, to Sunday, March 8.
While Supercars and the Porsche Carrera Cup dominate the track on Thursday, F1, F2, and F3 action begins from Friday.
The weekend culminates on Sunday afternoon with the 58-lap Grand Prix.
Where is the Australian Grand Prix?
The Australian Grand Prix returns to Albert Park in Melbourne, winding its way around the circuit's iconic central lake.
While technically classified as a street circuit, Albert Park's generous runoff and open vistas give it the distinct feel of a permanent parklands track.
It is a venue steeped in history, having served as the home of the Australian Grand Prix since 1996.
What time is the Australian Grand Prix?
Lights out at the Australian Grand Prix is scheduled at 3pm (AEDT) on Sunday, March 8.
The weekend's F1 action begins with three practice sessions across Friday and Saturday, before Saturday afternoon's qualifying shootout.
Fans hit the track after a wet and wild Australian Grand Prix 2025. SOPA Images/LightRocket via Gett
What is the Formula 1 schedule for the Australian Grand Prix?
All times AEDT
Friday, March 6
Free Practice 1: 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Free Practice 2: 4pm - 5pm
Saturday, March 7
Free Practice 3: 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Qualifying: 4pm - 5pm
Sunday March 8
Grand Prix: 3pm
How to purchase tickets to the Australian Grand Prix?
Ticketmaster is the official ticketing partner for the event.
However, securing tickets is now a significant challenge after most allocations for the main race days sold out in record time following their release late last year.
Oscar Piastri ended his chances of a home podium with a mistake late in the Australian Grand Prix 2025. Fox Sports
What is the 2026 Albert Park map for the Australian Grand Prix?
The Albert Park Circuit has undergone its most significant technical overhaul in years for 2026.
To accommodate radical new regulations, traditional DRS zones have been replaced by straight mode zones and overtake mode points.
Additionally, the pit lane has been reconfigured to house a 22nd garage as Cadillac joins the grid as the sport's 11th team.
Will the Iran war impact the Australian Grand Prix?
Despite significant chaos, the Australian Grand Prix will proceed as scheduled.
Following a week of logistical challenges and Middle East travel disruptions caused by the Iran conflict, the season-opener remains on track after Australian Grand Prix CEO Travis Auld dismissed cancellation rumours on Monday.
Auld confirmed that emergency charter flights would successfully ferry teams and staff to Melbourne in time for Friday's opening practice.
While the paddock may feel the squeeze of thinned support staff, the full 22-car grid will be ready for Sunday's start.
On Wednesday, a cargo flight believed to be carrying F1 cars was delayed en route to Melbourne from the UAE.
Who is performing at the Australian Grand Prix?
This year, the event will transform Albert Park into a full-scale music festival alongside the on-track action.
The Lakeside Festival stage, positioned near Turn 9, serves as the main hub for entertainment, with different artists scheduled to perform shortly after the final track session each day.
Thursday, March 5: Mallrat, Logic1000
Friday, March 6: Basement Jaxx, dameeeela
Saturday, March 7: Rita Ora, Rogue Traders
Sunday, March 8: Duke Dumont, SHOUSE (Live)
How to watch the Australian Grand Prix?
The Australian Grand Prix will be broadcast live and free-to-air on Network 10, and streamed on 10 Play.
The free-to-air coverage includes F1 practice, qualifying and the Grand Prix.
