Both Formula 1 and the NTT IndyCar Series are poised for historic events as they go racing on opposite sides of the world this weekend.
The F1 paddock rolls into Melbourne, Australia, ready to shake down a new set of dauntingly technical regulations new to the 2026 season. There are more questions than answers as to how the new cars will handle in racing conditions, whether attrition will be prominent and whether one team will even make the start of the race.
The IndyCar circus is sharing Phoenix Raceway with the NASCAR Cup Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, with the open-wheel series making its first start at Phoenix since 2018. Having not raced on the oval since its reconfiguration, and with only a handful of IndyCar drivers having raced the oval in any capacity, it’s anybody’s guess as to how Saturday’s (March 7) race will play out.
Kyle Benjamin gathers Peter Molloy and Michael Finley to break down the stories ahead of the F1 season, while Tom Blackburn and Wyatt Watson share their thoughts on IndyCar’s return to the long-requested (by fans) Phoenix Raceway.
Can Lando Norris defend his F1 title? Are Max Verstappen and Red Bull primed for a revenge tour? Will Josef Newgarden go back-to-back at Phoenix some 8 years later? What is to be done about Alex Palou? It’s all up for debate on this week’s episode of “The Pit Straight.”
Previewing Formula 1 Ahead of the Australian Grand Prix
“The Pit Straight” is Frontstretch‘s open-wheel racing podcast, available during the racing season weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and right here on the web.
