Australian Grand Prix: Leclerc tops first practice session, followed by Hamilton and Verstappen
Charles Leclerc led the way in the initial practice session of the 2026 Formula 1 season, with Lewis Hamilton securing a Ferrari 1-2 finish in the first session of the Australian Grand Prix. Leclerc’s final lap established a benchmark for his competitors, clocking in at 0.469 seconds quicker than the rest of the grid as Formula 1 embarks on a new chapter with revised regulations.
Max Verstappen claimed third place, having exchanged fastest times with Leclerc for the majority of the session, until Ferrari’s last run elevated both their drivers to the top positions. Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, Isaac Hadjar, closely followed the four-time world champion, achieving the fourth-fastest time.
The 18-year-old British driver Arvid Lindblad, who also has Swedish and Indian roots, emerged as a notable surprise of the session, securing the fifth-fastest time in his Racing Bull, while his teammate Liam Lawson finished in thirteenth.
McLaren encountered difficulties during FP1, as Oscar Piastri experienced a loss of power early on, finishing with a time 1.075 seconds slower than Leclerc, placing him sixth. Reigning champion Lando Norris faced gearbox issues, managing only seven laps and ending up with the nineteenth-fastest time.
Mercedes was considered a potential title contender prior to the season, and although George Russell and teammate Kimi Antonelli finished seventh and eighth, respectively, over a second behind Leclerc, factors such as fuel loads and engine settings may have influenced their performance in this practice session.
Aston Martin struggled to complete laps, as the team, which has faced engine troubles since pre-season testing, managed only three laps with Lance Stroll before an engine failure, while Fernando Alonso was unable to participate at all. This issue was reportedly distinct from the vibrations of the Honda power unit that could potentially lead to ‘permanent nerve damage’ for their drivers, as team principal Adrian Newey acknowledged prior to the race.
The challenges faced by Aston Martin allowed the newly-formed Cadillac team to avoid the lower rankings, although Valtteri Bottas (17th) and Sergio Pérez (20th) recorded times that were approximately four seconds off the leading pace.
Audi’s pre-season status as the best-of-the-rest appeared to be validated, with Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg finishing ninth and tenth. Esteban Ocon was close behind in his Haas, while teammate Oliver Bearman ended in fourteenth. Carlos Sainz (12th) was 2.056 seconds off the pace in his Williams, with teammate Alexander Albon finishing with the fifteenth-fastest time. Franco Colapinto (16th) and Pierre Gasly (18th) provided no new optimism for Alpine, appearing significantly off the pace.
Source: espn.com
