The 2026 Formula 1 season officially started with the first two practice sessions at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne. Ferrari showed strong pace in the morning with Charles Leclerc finishing fastest in FP1. Later in the day, home driver Oscar Piastri excited the local fans by topping FP2 for McLaren. The results suggest that several teams could be competitive at the start of the 2026 F1 season.
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FP1: Leclerc leads Ferrari one-two in first session
The first practice session of the F1 Australian Grand Prix weekend was led by Charles Leclerc. The Ferrari driver set the fastest lap with a time of 1:20.267.
Leclerc finished almost half a second ahead of the rest of the field. It was a strong start for Ferrari in the first official session of the new Formula 1 season.
Lewis Hamilton completed a Ferrari one-two by finishing second in the session. The seven-time world champion looked comfortable during the early running.
Max Verstappen placed third for Red Bull, completing several solid laps as the team began its preparation for qualifying and the race.
Behind the top three, teams focused on different programmes. Some drivers completed short runs to test tyre performance. Others worked on longer runs to collect race data.
Although there were a few small issues and moments on track, most teams were able to complete their planned programmes. The session provided valuable information for the rest of the weekend.
FP2: Piastri fastest in Australia as Mercedes shows pace
The second practice session brought a new name to the top of the timesheets. Oscar Piastri finished FP2 as the fastest driver with a lap time of 1:19.729.
The McLaren driver delivered the lap late in the session. His performance was greeted with excitement by the Australian fans at Albert Park.
Mercedes also showed strong pace in FP2. Rookie Kimi Antonelli finished second, continuing to impress in his early Formula 1 career.
George Russell placed third for Mercedes. Having both drivers in the top three was a positive sign for the team during the Friday running.
Several teams switched their focus to race simulations in the second half of the session to enable engineers to analyse tyre behaviour and fuel loads.
There was also a tense moment involving Lewis Hamilton. The Ferrari driver approached Colapinto’s slow car on the racing line at high speed. Fortunately, Hamilton avoided the car and no contact happened. Apart from that moment, the session ran mostly without major interruptions.
Close fight expected after Friday practice
After the first day of running, the early picture of the F1 Australian Grand Prix looks competitive. Ferrari showed impressive speed in FP1, while McLaren and Mercedes were strong in FP2.
However, practice results do not always reflect the full performance of each team. Some teams may still be hiding their true pace before qualifying. If Friday is an indication, fans can expect a close fight in Melbourne.
The full results of the free practices according to FIA.com:
