Alex Powell: NZ Herald Sports Reporter on the 2026 Formula 1 season kicking off in Melbourne

The 2026 Formula 1 season is kicking off in Melbourne today. 

Homegrown racer Liam Lawson will be facing the Albert Park street circuit once again – the race that saw him fail to finish last year. 

NZ Herald Sports Reporter Alex Powell told Ryan Bridge it’s been a tricky start to the year for everyone, with new cars and new regulations, so everyone’s waiting with bated breath to see how they’ll go. 

He says today will be the first time we’ll see these cars and race situation on a track. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Formula One twenty twenty six season kicks off in Melbourne today.
Liam Lawson, Well, he'll be hoping for a change in
favor after the same race last season saw and finished
well last.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
I learned a lot. Last year was a very important
season for me, especially to survive it. I think that's
been something that I've learned a lot from so on
that side, I'm grateful to have done that and feel
a lot better going into this year.

Speaker 1 (00:23):
Alex Powell, Herald's sports reporter in Melbourne this weekend. Alex,
good morning, good to have you on the show.

Speaker 3 (00:29):
Thank you mate.

Speaker 1 (00:30):
How's it looking.

Speaker 3 (00:32):
It's actually been a really tricky start to the year
for everyone. I mean there's new cars, there's new regulations
that's dictated how you can build them, so no one
really knows how it's going to go. Today's going to
be the first time we actually see these cars and
sort of race situation on track, so I think we're
all just waiting with data breath to see how they'll go.

Speaker 1 (00:51):
I was reading yesterday about Aston Martin only able to
do twenty five laps because of vibration issues.

Speaker 3 (00:59):
Yeah, Aston Martin been a real sort of head case
all pre season they've completely changed their engine manufacturer, so
they're now with Honda. They've just had an issue after
a show. After issue, they've suggested that they might just
do the formation lap in Melbourne and then retire, which
would be crazy to not even officially start the race.
So it's again, it's another one of those things that

(01:19):
we're just waiting and seeing how it's actually going to
go once racing begins later this afternoon.

Speaker 1 (01:24):
So what is that? How do you get into that position?
How long did they have to make the cars for
the regulations?

Speaker 3 (01:31):
Yeah, so we knew they'd been coming in for a
couple of years, but basically teams had to balance last year.
Do they want to be competitive and win in twenty
twenty five and put everything into tween twenty six or
go the other way around and try and compete in
twenty twenty five. That's right, Yeah, just hold themselves off
for this year. Assen Martin kind of did neither, so
they were a bit competitive last year and then now

(01:53):
they've sort of just given everything away. Fernando Alonso, who's
they've senior drivers, a two time world champion. He just
looks absolutely devastated whenever he does anything with the media
because he knows they just don't have a car it's
going to be able to compete at all.

Speaker 1 (02:06):
From what you've seen, and I know you've been talking
to him, is Liam looking sound and confident.

Speaker 3 (02:14):
Liam's a very confident guy. Just by who he is.
That does come across as arrogance to some people, but
he is just He's one of the most self believing
people I've ever met. I think he has personally everything
he needs to have a really good season. But again,
it's all going to come down to the car. Like
that is just the repeat message you're getting from not
just Liam but all the drivers. We don't know what

(02:36):
the car is going to be like in comparison to
everyone else.

Speaker 1 (02:40):
I guess it makes it more exciting, does it.

Speaker 3 (02:43):
Yeah, that's why they've done it. I mean, there was
so much criticism over the last few years about Formula
One and being so predictable. No one really overtakes anyone
on track. We had breakfast out at Mercedes yesterday and
COMMI inside, he is about nineteen years old, was saying,
But what they've done with the new regulation changes is
you're going to get more overtaking in areas of tracks
that you just didn't in the past and so from

(03:04):
a fans point of view, that's great, but there are
a lot of you know, traditionalists who are really anti
it because it's just not the racing they're used to.
So I mean it's going to be really good for neutrals.

Speaker 1 (03:15):
Appreciate your time this morning, Alex. Go back to bed.
Alex Powell, the Herald Sports supporter in Melbourne for us
IF one kicking.

Speaker 3 (03:21):
Off for more from Earlily Edition with Ryan Bridge. Listen
live to News Talks at B from five am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.