The 2026 Formula 1 season is kicking off in Melbourne today. 

Homegrown racer Liam Lawson will be facing the Albert Park street circuit once again – the race that saw him fail to finish last year. 

NZ Herald Sports Reporter Alex Powell told Ryan Bridge it’s been a tricky start to the year for everyone, with new cars and new regulations, so everyone’s waiting with bated breath to see how they’ll go. 

He says today will be the first time we’ll see these cars and race situation on a track. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

The 2026 Formula 1 season is kicking off in Melbourne today.&nbsp;
Homegrown racer Liam Lawson will be facing the Albert Park street circuit once again – the race that saw him fail to finish last year.&nbsp;
NZ Herald Sports Reporter Alex Powell told Ryan Bridge it’s been a tricky start to the year for everyone, with new cars and new regulations, so everyone’s waiting with bated breath to see how they’ll go.&nbsp;
He says today will be the first time we’ll see these cars and race situation on a track.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Alex Powell: NZ Herald Sports Reporter on the 2026 Formula 1 season kicking off in Melbourne

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/5d1918ba-beb4-4b9b-acb4-b4040177a833/transcript

There are claims a Parliamentary inquiry into online safety is rushing toward regulation without fully considering the consequences. 

A Select Committee is backing a social media ban for under 16s and calling for an online regulator and tougher controls on harmful apps and algorithms. 

ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar initiated the inquiry last year but says the recommendations don't have adequate analysis. 

She told Ryan Bridge concerns about youth online are real, and we need to find real solutions for them. 

Parmar says it's a complex issue and wasn't dealt with the seriousness that parents and young people deserve. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

There are claims a Parliamentary inquiry into online safety is rushing toward regulation without fully considering the consequences.&nbsp;
A Select Committee is backing a social media ban for under 16s and calling for an online regulator and tougher controls on harmful apps and algorithms.&nbsp;
ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar initiated the inquiry last year but says the recommendations don't have adequate analysis.&nbsp;
She told Ryan Bridge concerns about youth online are real, and we need to find real solutions for them.&nbsp;
Parmar says it's a complex issue and wasn't dealt with the seriousness that parents and young people deserve.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Parmjeet Parmar: ACT MP on the outcome of the Parliamentary Select Committee into online safety, youth social media ban

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/096459ad-7240-4453-bf83-b404017155c0/transcript

Other countries are using our medicinal cannabis products more than we are.  

ACT leader David Seymour says he's looking at further improvements to speed up processing for exports of the plant, which he believes could one day rival the wine industry.  

He is open to improving regulation domestically as well. 

Cannabis Clinic CEO Waseem Alzaher told Ryan Bridge there's are a lot of companies growing the plant locally. 

He says that product is being sent offshore, in forms people can't get in New Zealand. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

Other countries are using our medicinal cannabis products more than we are. &nbsp;
ACT leader David Seymour says he's looking at further improvements to speed up processing for exports of the plant, which he believes could one day rival the wine industry. &nbsp;
He is open to improving regulation domestically as well.&nbsp;
Cannabis Clinic CEO Waseem Alzaher told Ryan Bridge there's are a lot of companies growing the plant locally.&nbsp;
He says that product is being sent offshore, in forms people can't get in New Zealand.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Waseem Alzaher: Cannabis Clinic CEO on David Seymour's push to bolster medicinal cannabis production and exports in NZ

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/282ca45c-f80b-4d6e-8c27-b404016b4a1d/transcript

The UK Prime Minister has an uphill battle to convince the public his response to the war in Iran is the right one.

Sir Keir Starmer has announced four extra Typhoon jets are being sent to join the squadron in Qatar, while helicopters with anti-drone capabilities will shortly arrive in Cyprus and the HMS Dragon is being deployed to the Mediterranean. The move follows a strike from an Iranian-made drone at the UK’s Akrotiri air base in Cyprus.

But Starmer is still being accused of having “completely misjudged” the need to put defences into Cyprus, UK Correspondent Grey told Ryan Bridge.

The HMS Dragon wouldn’t arrive for around a week, while other European nations were very quickly filling the void by sending naval assets.

“Frankly many people think Keir Starmer has been caught rather napping on this - plus the fact, rather embarrassingly for him, the first...government-chartered flight out of the Middle East for people who were stuck there had been delayed for some engineering problems.”

The flight had now taken off, Grey said.

LISTEN ABOVE

The UK Prime Minister has an uphill battle to convince the public his response to the war in Iran is the right one.
Sir Keir Starmer has announced four extra Typhoon jets are being sent to join the squadron in Qatar, while helicopters with anti-drone capabilities will shortly arrive in Cyprus and the HMS Dragon is being deployed to the Mediterranean. The move follows a strike from an Iranian-made drone at the UK’s Akrotiri air base in Cyprus.
But Starmer is still being accused of having “completely misjudged” the need to put defences into Cyprus, UK Correspondent Grey told Ryan Bridge.
The HMS Dragon wouldn’t arrive for around a week, while other European nations were very quickly filling the void by sending naval assets.
“Frankly many people think Keir Starmer has been caught rather napping on this - plus the fact, rather embarrassingly for him, the first...government-chartered flight out of the Middle East for people who were stuck there had been delayed for some engineering problems.”
The flight had now taken off, Grey said.
LISTEN ABOVE

Gavin Grey: UK Correspondent on Keir Starmer announcing the UK will send four fighter jets to Qatar

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3d1a68dc-0c6f-4a85-8738-b40401218a86/transcript

Alex Powell: NZ Herald Sports Reporter on the 2026 Formula 1 season kicking off in Melbourne

In 1 playlist(s)

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips