F1 NATION: Title predictions and more – It’s our 2026 F1 season preview

James Hinchcliffe, Jolyon Palmer and Tom Clarkson look ahead to the first race of the 2026 Formula 1 season, the Australian Grand Prix, in the new episode of F1 Nation.

Are Mercedes the favourites? Could fast-starting Ferrari be title contenders? How will McLaren’s team mate battle develop now Lando Norris is the reigning World Champion?

Can Max Verstappen put Red Bull in the mix? There are so many questions at the start of a new era of racing, and Hinch, Jolyon and TC debate it all.

Plus, how will Williams and Alpine perform? Can Aston Martin recover after a difficult winter? Is 2026 a big chance for Haas? And which of the new teams – Audi or Cadillac – will have a stronger season?

Also in the show, the team make their pre-season predictions: who will win in Melbourne, and who will be the 2026 F1 World Champion?

To hear the latest on all the biggest talking points ahead of the race weekend, hit go on the audio player above or click here to listen to the latest episode on your preferred podcasting platform.

This week's episode can also be viewed on YouTube here.

Fancy getting your question answered by the F1 Nation team on a future episode? Simply record it as a voice note and email it to F1Nation@F1.com.