Our 2026 Australian GP predictions
Digest
The podcast opens with hosts Matt and Tommy expressing their enthusiasm for the upcoming Formula 1 season and the thrill of making predictions. They touch upon the popularity of "Drive to Survive" and the viral impression of Tommy by Conor Moore. An invitation is extended to join the P1 podcast's F1 Fantasy League. The hosts then dive into their predictions, with Matt picking Charles Leclerc as a "good surprise" and Tommy selecting Oscar Piastri as a "big flop," referencing the "Australian Grand Prix curse." Matt predicts Haas as his "big flop" team, while Tommy controversially picks George Russell for pole position. For the race winner, Tommy chooses Russell, and Matt picks Leclerc, with discussions on potential podium contenders like Verstappen and Norris. A new segment, "P What?", is introduced, where hosts randomly select a finishing position and predict the driver. Their "crazy predictions" include Aston Martin scoring a point or not starting the race. The Patreon-exclusive prediction segment is highlighted, encouraging listener submissions, and the "Family Top Three" segment features predictions from Tommy's dad and wife.
Outlines
Season Excitement, Viral Impressions, and Fantasy League
Hosts Matt and Tommy share their excitement for the new Formula 1 season and the unpredictability of predictions. They discuss the popularity of "Drive to Survive" and a viral impression of Tommy by Conor Moore. An invitation is extended to join the P1 podcast's F1 Fantasy League, highlighting its competitive nature.
Driver and Team Predictions: Surprises, Flops, and Pole Position
The hosts begin their predictions, with Matt choosing Charles Leclerc as his "good surprise" and Tommy selecting Oscar Piastri as his "big flop," citing the "Australian Grand Prix curse." Matt predicts Haas as his "big flop" team, while Tommy controversially picks George Russell for pole position, anticipating a strong Mercedes performance.
Race Winner, Podium Picks, and New Prediction Segment
The hosts reveal their picks for the race winner, with Tommy choosing George Russell and Matt opting for Charles Leclerc, while discussing potential podium contenders like Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. A new segment, "P What?", is introduced where hosts randomly select a finishing position and predict which driver will land there.
Bold Predictions and Fan Input
The hosts share their "crazy predictions," including Aston Martin's potential to score a point or even not start the race. The Patreon-exclusive prediction segment is highlighted, encouraging listeners to submit their own predictions. The "Family Top Three" segment features predictions from Tommy's dad and wife for the Australian Grand Prix.
Keywords
Drive to Survive
A popular Netflix docu-series that follows the Formula 1 World Championship, offering behind-the-scenes access to drivers, teams, and the drama of the sport. It has significantly boosted F1's global popularity.
F1 Fantasy League
An official online game where users can create virtual teams of Formula 1 drivers and constructors, earning points based on their real-world performance during Grand Prix weekends.
Australian Grand Prix Curse
A perceived jinx affecting Australian drivers at their home Grand Prix, where they have historically faced misfortune, DNFs, or missed podium opportunities despite strong performances.
Pole Position
The first starting position on the grid for a race, achieved by the driver who sets the fastest qualifying lap time. It is a significant advantage, especially at tracks where overtaking is difficult.
Good Surprise Prediction
A prediction where a driver or team is expected to perform significantly better than anticipated, exceeding expectations and potentially achieving a strong result or podium finish.
Big Flop Prediction
A prediction where a driver or team is expected to underperform significantly, failing to meet expectations and potentially struggling to score points or even finishing at the back of the grid.
P What? Segment
A new segment introduced in the podcast where hosts randomly select a finishing position and predict which driver will achieve it.
Crazy Predictions
Bold and unconventional predictions made by the podcast hosts regarding team performance or driver outcomes, often pushing the boundaries of expectation.
Q&A
What is the "Australian Grand Prix curse" mentioned in the podcast?
The "Australian Grand Prix curse" is a perceived jinx affecting Australian drivers at their home race. Historically, drivers like Mark Webber and Daniel Ricciardo faced misfortune, and Oscar Piastri had a challenging race last year, leading to a belief that Australian drivers struggle at this specific Grand Prix.
What is the new segment introduced in the predictions segment?
The new segment is called "P What?". In this segment, a random finishing position between fourth and twenty-second is selected, and both hosts must guess which driver will finish in that specific position, earning points for accuracy.
What are the hosts' "crazy predictions" for Aston Martin?
Tommy's crazy prediction is that Aston Martin or Cadillac will score a point. Matt's even crazier prediction is that Aston Martin might not even start the Australian Grand Prix, suggesting they could withdraw due to significant struggles.
Who did the hosts' family members predict for the Australian Grand Prix podium?
Tommy's dad predicted Max Verstappen for P1, Lando Norris for P2, and Charles Leclerc for P3. Tommy's wife, Katie, also predicted George Russell for P1, Charles Leclerc for P3, and Max Verstappen for P2.
Show Notes
F1 is BACK! Join Charles Leclerc’s babe Matt Gallagher and Netflix superstar Tom Bellingham for our first predictions round of the season.
Nobody’s quite sure what to expect in Melbourne, so join us for the chaos - plus, we unveil a BRAND NEW predictions segment!
Sign up to our Patreon! You'll get access to every P1 episode ad-free, extended versions of every 2026 race review, early access to tickets & merch, and access to our Discord server where you can chat with us and other F1 fans! Click here to sign up now: http://patreon.com/mattp1tommy
Follow us on socials! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, Twitch, YouTube and TikTok.
P1 with Matt and Tommy is the world's biggest F1 podcast. Subscribe for new podcasts around every single race throughout the 2026 Formula 1 season!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Table of contents
United States
