Follow the opening Friday of free practice in the 2016 Formula One season live with F1i as we bring you live commentary of the start of the Australian Grand Prix weekend from Albert Park in the Melbourne.

It has been a long winter for teams, drivers, and fans all over the world but wait is finally over as the new F1 campaign gets underway with its traditional opener Down Under.

F1i's live coverage will bring you all the latest information about what is happening on track as well as news and features from the paddock.

While it had been a sunny week in Australia so far, that it is currently an overcast and damp start though it hasn't rained for the last hour and a support race is currently helping dry out the track.

A new season naturally means plenty of questions but the main topic will be to see whether Mercedes can be challenged this year after dominating the past two seasons in the 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged era. The reigning Constructors’ champions have repeatedly warned that their nearest 2015 rivals Ferrari have made significant headway over the winter.

The opening free practice session of the year shall give us some early pointers and trends.

Follow the opening day of the 2016 F1 season LIVE

F1i's Australian Grand Prix preview

2016 F1 season: Team-by-team preview

Julien Billiotte

Recent Posts

Antonelli reveals what racing Verstappen taught him at Sepang

F1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli walked away from last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia…

2 hours ago

Mansell's finally breaks his duck after 72-race run

It was a long time coming - 72 races to be exact - but on…

3 hours ago

Alonso reportedly set for sensational Dakar return in 2027

Fernando Alonso isn’t one to settle for a quiet off-season. Just when paddock observers thought…

3 hours ago

Valtteri Bottas opts for extreme cycle commute to Singapore!

Most F1 drivers handle double-header travel days by slipping into air-conditioned transfer vans, boarding a…

5 hours ago

Horner reacts to Red Bull-Ford monumental first at Sepang

Red Bull and Max Verstappen’s triumph in last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix was a vindication…

6 hours ago

Bearman blasts Haas: ‘Soft tyre strategy screwed my race’

Oliver Bearman left Bahrain convinced Haas had thrown away a genuine chance of points after…

21 hours ago