While Australian Grand Prix organisers are talking up the events ability to compete with the opening round of AFL, they'll also be talking to the new owners of Formula One to try and avoid the clash in future.

Daniel Ricciardo is "very confident" he will be a serious contender for this year's Formula One world title.

Clashes, crashes and controversy. Right from the start, the Melbourne Grand Prix has had it all – on and off the track.

Mercedes recruit Valtteri Bottas is this year taking on arguably the toughest challenge in F1 as triple world champion Lewis Hamilton's teammate.

A leading Holden team will run a car in the rainbow colour scheme synonymous with alternative sexuality in the Supercars support races at the Australian Grand Prix.

His team owner may have recently said that his keeping two cars long-term in Formula One was not dependant on winning, but Romain Grosjean is back in Melbourne with the thought that constant improvement could see him surprise as the 2017 season progresses.

Daniel Ricciardo has a grandstand named after him at Melbourne's Australian Grand Prix circuit.

Here's a look at what how F1 will be different in this year's Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.

A new era in Formula One that will definitely be faster, but debatably better, begins at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

As Victoria prepare for a likely "home" Sheffield Shield final later this month in Alice Springs, the prospect of how the Grand Prix might affect the Bushrangers's chances of hosting next year's final at the redeveloped Junction Oval on Grand Prix weekend remains up in the air.

It takes some effort to wipe the smile off Daniel Ricciardo's face, but Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen will be hoping the breezy Australian has less to grin about this season.

Las Vegas: Martin Truex Junior passed Brad Keselowski with two laps to go and avoided a last-lap wreck that led to a pit-road brawl and left Kyle Busch bloodied in a wild finish to the Nascar Cup race on Sunday.

In one of the most dramatic finishes to World Rally Championship even, race leader Kris Meeke careened off the course, wove through a trackside carpark, plunged back on to the course - and won.

Australian Grand Prix organisers have abandoned a late bid to upgrade the Supercars support races at next week's Formula 1 season-opener to championship status, vowing to make a concerted effort for next year.

Daniel Ricciardo says several teams could be in contention in the Australian Grand Prix.

Judging by his demoralising domination of the season-opening Adelaide 500, Shane van Gisbergen will be even more difficult to beat in this year's Supercars championship.

About the only insight the opening race of the Supercars championship provided was that defending champion Shane van Gisbergen is fully motivated to retain his title.

Supercars has become embroiled in a controversy over a stillborn plan to create a V8-powered open-wheel racing car for a support series at major events.

It's the elephant in the room, the subject no one in Supercars is prepared to query or criticise because it involves gender.