Key Supercars 2026 questions that will be answered at AGP

Just 11 days after the Sydney finale, Supercars will be back racing on the world stage in Melbourne.

So much happened in Sydney, and plenty was said afterwards. However, given all that went down at the DUNLOP Sydney 500, you'd be brave to suggest that things will stay the same.

If anything, we're tipping the unpredictability will continue in Melbourne, where short, sharp sprint races and cutthroat qualifying sessions have been known to throw everything out of the window.

Once drivers and teams get through Melbourne, we may have a clearer picture of what the rest of the season may look like.

What really is the pecking order?

We left Sydney with nine different teams represented in the top 11 in the drivers' championship. Only Tickford Racing and Team 18 had two drivers up there, and even then, it's not convincing by either team. Seven drivers from six teams have already stood on the podium, while three different teams shared the three Boost Mobile Poles. The likes of PremiAir Racing and Erebus Motorsport, meanwhile, didn't feature at all. Will the randomness continue into Melbourne, or will big players emerge?

So, can BRT and Team 18 keep it going?

The surprises of the pack in Sydney were Blanchard Racing Team and Team 18. Both Melbourne teams flew out of the blocks, BRT claiming a double podium and pole, and Team 18 a win. For General Motors fans, it's imperative that Team 18 keeps it going. Anton De Pasquale is a gun, while David Reynolds scored as many points in three races than he did in the first three rounds of 2025. Then, there's BRT, which is determined to avoid second round syndrome.

Is Feeney again the benchmark…

With two wins and a pole, Broc Feeney emerged as equal points leader after Round 1. The Red Bull Ampol Racing star didn't have it all his own way, jumping the BRT Fords in the pits on Friday, being penalised in the Saturday race, and nearly tripping up over Kai Allen and oppressive heat to win on Sunday.

… or is it Payne?

If it isn't Feeney, then it could be Penrite Racing's Bathurst winner. Matt Payne didn't fire a shot in Sydney, yet claimed two podiums and a fourth to end the weekend level on points with Feeney. Once Payne actually fires a shot, can he be beaten, and could it happen as early as this weekend?

Has Ford turned the tables?

Feeney's early successes in his new Mustang proved that Triple Eight is the benchmark at extracting performance. However, Sydney was already a 'Mustang track', given Chaz Mostert and Cam Waters won five straight for Ford across 2024 and 2025. The biggest test for Ford will be at a track it remains winless at since 2019: Albert Park. Camaros are undefeated in the Gen3 era in Melbourne, winning 11 straight. If Fords (and Feeney or Will Brown, in particular) win this weekend, the narrative could change.

Can Brown stay in the hunt?

It was a nightmare start for Will Brown, who left Sydney buried in 15th overall. Penalties, incidents and trips to the medical centre weren't part of the plan. A two time defending Larry Perkins Trophy winner, Brown can't afford to have two bad rounds in a row. That hasn't happened to Brown in his time with Triple Eight.

Can Toyota maximise surprise Sunday result?

After a rollercoaster start in Sydney, all five Toyota Supras landed in the top 10 in the Sydney finale, with Chaz Mostert nearly on the podium. The likes of Ryan Walkinshaw and Bruce Stewart suggested that they needed luck to deliver such a result, but you can bet your bottom dollar that they will have taken it and ran. Another big points weekend in Melbourne, through luck or not, could set the Toyotas up for a confident run at securing multiple Finals spots.

Is Tickford’s lead genuine, or another false dawn?

A big surprise leaving Sydney was Tickford holding the teams' championship lead. The Ford team did it last year, but fell apart. However, there are signs that Tickford is quietly making ground. Thomas Randle qualified in the top 10 for all three races for the first time since Tasmania last year, while Cam Waters — like Payne — scored big points despite not throwing a punch.

Is Bates best of the rookies?

Of the five rookies on the grid, Zach Bates perhaps left the most frustrated, even if he didn't show it. But three top 10 qualifying results was early proof that Matt Stone Racing could be onto a winner. If MSR shows race winning speed at the Grand Prix, Bates could actually be a winner before too long.

Is this a new, aggressive Kostecki?

Three races, two penalties. Brodie Kostecki was on a mission in Sydney. There was brilliant speed, but also flashes of aggression and, at times, impatience. What could that mean? Well, Kostecki may not have been happy with his car, and was forced to man-handle results from it. He still scored big points despite his wobbles, so if he manages to stay on the right side of the line, he could be a serious handful for his rivals.

The views in this article do not necessarily express the opinions of Supercars, teams or drivers.