Formula 1
AustraliaSeason 2026
Charles Leclerc set the early benchmark for the 2026 season, topping the first practice session of the Australian Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver clocked a 1:20.267, edging out his new teammate Lewis Hamilton by nearly half a second.
The Scuderia appeared comfortable with the new regulations from the outset, showing strong mechanical grip through the technical sectors. Max Verstappen finished third for Red Bull, just over half a second back, while his young teammate Isack Hadjar impressed with the fourth-fastest time.
The session was far from smooth for everyone as teams grappled with the new car configurations. Reigning World Champion Lando Norris saw his session cut short by a gearbox issue, leaving him 19th on the timesheets.
Oscar Piastri also faced early "no power" scares but recovered to finish sixth, just behind the impressive Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad. Several drivers, including Alex Albon and Lindblad, triggered Virtual Safety Cars due to minor technical gremlins and off-track excursions as they searched for the limits of the 2026 aero packages.
Meanwhile, Aston Martin struggled significantly, with Fernando Alonso failing to set a representative time due to power unit complications.