What We Learned from Australian GP Free Practice
A mixed Friday at Albert Park sets the stage for an intriguing season opener
The first free practice sessions of the 2026 Formula 1 season are complete at Melbourne’s Albert Park. Despite some red flag interruptions, there was plenty to analyze as teams finally got their new cars into competitive action.
FP1: Ferrari Strikes First
Charles Leclerc topped the opening practice session of the year, leading a Ferrari 1-2 with a time of 1:20.267. Lewis Hamilton finished second, just 0.469 seconds behind his new teammate, showing Ferrari comes into 2026 with strong early pace.
Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull, with the Racing Bulls of Isack Hadjar and Arvid Lindblad impressing in fourth and fifth respectively. However, it was a difficult session for McLaren, as championship favorite Lando Norris suffered a gearbox failure and managed only seven laps, finishing 19th.
FP2: McLaren Hits Back
The afternoon session told a different story. Local hero Oscar Piastri delighted the home crowd by setting the fastest time at 1:19.729, leading a Mercedes-powered top three. Kimi Antonelli was second, just 0.214 seconds behind, with George Russell third.
Ferrari slipped to fourth and fifth with Hamilton and Leclerc, while Verstappen finished sixth. Norris improved to seventh but remained over a second off the pace—suggesting McLaren has work to do ahead of qualifying.
Key Takeaways from Friday
- Ferrari Quick: Leclerc showed immediate pace in FP1, but Mercedes and McLaren responded strongly in FP2
- Top 4 Teams Close: The gap between Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull appears minimal
- Aston Martin in Crisis: Honda engine and battery problems limited both cars to just a handful of laps—Alonso didn’t run at all in FP1
- New Teams Struggling: Cadillac and Alpine appear some way off the pace in their first competitive running
- Rookies Impress: Racing Bulls rookies Arvid Lindblad and Isack Hadjar showed promising pace
Aston Martin’s Nightmare Continues
Perhaps the most concerning story of the day came from Aston Martin. The team is already in a « scary place » according to reports, with only two working batteries remaining for their Honda engine. Fernando Alonso didn’t complete any laps in FP1, while Lance Stroll managed just three slow laps before parking with a suspected power unit issue.
The team admitted their hopes for the weekend are already limited, with reliability the sole focus rather than competitive results.
What to Watch For
With the gap between the top four teams so small, qualifying promises to be fascinating. Norris’s gearbox issue will be a concern for McLaren, while Aston Martin’s struggles could see them well off the pace all weekend.
The real test will come in the race simulations during FP3, where teams will learn more about tire degradation and energy management—the two key factors expected to define racing in 2026.