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Full Noise by SN
Important update on 1476AMAustralia GP dumped as F1 season opener
SEN • April 29th, 2026 1:34 pm
Formul 1 at Melbourne's Albert Park circuit | Photo: James Ross/AAP
After two years of being the season curtain raiser, Melbourne is set to be bumped back in the Formula One calendar in 2027.
Australia was always the opening Grand Prix of the season between 1995 and 2019 before being replaced by Bahrain.
In recent years the dates of Ramadan have seen round 1 return to Australia but the holy festival will not clash with the start of the 2027 calendar meaning Bahrain will be reinstated as the season opener slated for March 14.
According to reports, Australia will host the third race of the season on the weekend of April 4 with Saudi Arabia second.
The 2027 calendar will also see the return to racing in Turkey with the Grand Prix in Istanbul contracted to remain on the roster until 2031.
F1 returns this weekend in Miami after an unscheduled five week break.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East forced organisers to cancel the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races.
It means drivers have not competed since Kimi Antonelli won the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29.
The young Italian, who drives for Mercedes, leads the title race by nine points from George Russell.
Oscar Piastri will be looking to put a miserable opening two races behind him. The Aussie did not start in Melbourne or China before securing second place in Japan.
