The 2026 Formula 2 season begins this weekend at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne, as part of the Australian GP schedule. F2, considered the main feeder category for Formula 1, returns to the track bringing together young talents seeking to catch the attention of teams in the world’s premier motorsport category.
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The start of the championship also marks the debut of new names on the grid and the continuation of the journey for drivers trying to take the next step in their careers. As traditionally happens, Formula 2 shares the stage with Formula 1 at the main stages of the calendar, offering fans a complete weekend of racing.
In Brazil, the Formula 2 season opener will be broadcast live on sportv3. The channel will show all activities of the Australian round, starting this Thursday, March 5, when the free practice takes place. The session is scheduled for 20:00 Brasília time.
A few hours later, in the early hours of Friday, the Formula 2 qualifying takes place, which will define the starting grid for the weekend’s races. The program starts at 0:55 on sportv3, with full coverage of the battle for the best time in Melbourne.
The schedule continues on Saturday with the Formula 2 Sprint, scheduled for 0:10. The main race of the round, which decides most of the weekend’s points, also takes place on Saturday, at 21:30 Brasília time.
All activities of the Australian round will be narrated by Dandan Pereira, accompanied by driver and commentator Gianluca Petecof. The Brazilian competed in Formula 2 in the 2021 season and now participates in the broadcasts bringing technical analysis and commentary on the track battles.
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In addition to the season opener, sportv3 will also broadcast live all activities of some other rounds of the 2026 Formula 2 season. In the other races of the championship, the channel will show highlights with the main moments throughout the race weekends.
This year’s season will also have a Brazilian presence on the grid. Two drivers represent the country in Formula 2 in 2026. Rafael Câmara races for the Invicta Racing team, while Emmo Fittipaldi Jr. defends AIX Racing. Emmo is the son of two-time Formula 1 world champion Emerson Fittipaldi, one of the greatest names in the history of Brazilian motorsport.
Formula 2 has been an important path to Formula 1 over the last few years. Several drivers who currently compete in the main category won the F2 title before reaching the F1 grid.
Among the recent champions of the category who are now in Formula 1 are Charles Leclerc, 2017 champion, George Russell, 2018 champion, Oscar Piastri, 2021 champion, and Gabriel Bortoleto, who won the title in 2024.
With new talents arriving and known names trying to consolidate themselves, the 2026 Formula 2 season begins in Melbourne promising intense battles and another chapter in the development of future Formula 1 drivers.
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