Forget winning at Suzuka.
The big question facing McLaren at Sunday afternoon’s F1 Japanese Grand Prix is will Australia’s Oscar Piastri actually start the race?
It’s been a frustrating, bordering on embarrassing, opening to the 2026 F1 season for the reigning 2025 constructors champions with a combination of car and driver shortcomings earning the team in papaya a miserable 18 points, total, from the first two rounds.
24-year old Piastri in particular will be desperately hoping for a change in fortunes in Japan after failing to even make the starting grid in Melbourne due to a crash on the warm-up lap or Shanghai where neither of two McLarens was able to start the race due to battery-related issues.
MORE: When is the F1 Japanese Grand Prix 2026? Race start time, weekend schedule for Suzuka
Heading into the Japan race, there have been encouraging signs with Piastri impressing during Saturday’s qualifying sessions to start third on the grid, behind only Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.
Of course, Saturdays haven’t been the issue with the Aussie previously qualifying fifth in both Melbourne and Shanghai, only for disaster to strike on Sunday before the lights have even gone out.
It may only be the third race of the season, but with the next two Grand Prix cancelled and Mercedes already holding a healthy lead in the constructors’ and drivers’ championships, McLaren must get their 2026 challenge started in Japan.
But for them to do that, their cars first need to make it to the starting line.
F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Start Time
The F1 Japanese Grand Prix 2026 takes place at the Suzuka Circuit on Sunday March 29 and begin at 2:00 p.m. local time.
Here’s how that start time translates across Australia:
Date
Start time
AEDT
Sun, Mar. 29
4:00 p.m.
AEST
Sun, Mar. 29
3:00 p.m.
ACDT
Sun, Mar. 29
3:30 p.m.
AWST
Sun, Mar. 29
1:00 p.m.
F1 Drivers World Championship 2026 standings, points
Standings updated after the Chinese Grand Prix
Position
Driver
Team
Points
1.
George Russell
Mercedes
51
2.
Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes
47
3.
Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
34
4.
Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari
33
5.
Oliver Bearman
Haas
17
6.
Lando Norris
McLaren
15
7.
Pierre Gasly
Alpine
9
8.
Max Verstappen
Red Bull
8
9.
Liam Lawson
Racing Bulls
8
10.
Arvind Lindblad
Racing Bulls
4
11.
Isack Hadjar
Red Bull
4
12.
Oscar Piastri
McLaren
3
13.
Carlos Sainz
Williams
2
14.
Gabriel Bortoleto
Audi
2
15.
Franco Colapinto
Alpine
1
16.
Esteban Ocon
Haas
0
17.
Nico Hulkenberg
Audi
0
18.
Alexander Albon
Williams
0
19.
Valtteri Bottas
Cadillac
0
20.
Sergio Perez
Cadillac
0
21.
Fernando Alonso
Aston Martin
0
22.
Lance Stroll
Aston Martin
0