Oscar Piastri delighted the home crowd by going fastest in second practice for the Australian GP, leading a top-three lockout for Mercedes-powered cars. Kimi Antonelli and George Russell followed for a resurgent Mercedes team, while Max Verstappen's session was marred by an off-track incident. The results hint at a close fight for pole position on Saturday.
Aston Martin's Australian GP weekend began disastrously as both cars were sidelined in FP1 with power unit issues, prompting concern from ambassador Jenson Button. Technical chief Adrian Newey revealed severe chassis vibrations are causing part failures and, more critically, risking permanent nerve damage to the drivers' hands, forcing extreme lap limits for the race.
George Russell and rookie Arvid Lindblad face an FIA investigation after colliding in the Melbourne pit lane during FP2, with Russell likely at fault for an unsafe garage exit. In a separate incident, Alpine's Franco Colapinto is under scrutiny for nearly causing a high-speed crash with Lewis Hamilton by driving too slowly on the racing line.
Aston Martin is in a dire situation at the Australian GP, with Team Principal Adrian Newey confirming they have only two working batteries left due to a severe vibration issue with the new Honda power unit. The crisis has drastically reduced track time, stifling car development and leaving the team scrambling just to get both cars on the grid for the race.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has placed the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix under serious threat of cancellation. With no feasible option to postpone or replace the events, F1 faces the stark possibility of a six-week gap in the calendar, prioritizing safety over sport as a final decision looms within two weeks.
McLaren's Oscar Piastri topped the timesheets in second practice at his home grand prix, leading a competitive session where the top ten were separated by less than six-tenths of a second. Fernando Alonso was a standout in second, while championship leader Max Verstappen struggled with his car's balance, finishing sixth.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc led Lewis Hamilton in a 1-2 finish during the first practice session of F1's new 2026 era in Melbourne. The session was disrupted by reliability issues, most notably for reigning champion Lando Norris's McLaren, while new teams and drivers began their adaptation on track.
Charles Leclerc led a Ferrari one-two in first practice for the Australian GP, with Max Verstappen third for Red Bull. The session was marked by technical trouble for McLaren, which severely limited running for both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc set the pace in first practice for the Australian GP, leading a team one-two over Carlos Sainz. The inaugural session for F1's 2026 cars was disrupted by significant technical issues, most notably for McLaren's Lando Norris who managed only seven laps, highlighting the early reliability challenges of the new era.
Charles Leclerc led a Ferrari 1-2 in the first practice session of the 2026 F1 season in Melbourne, with new teammate Lewis Hamilton close behind in second. Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull, while several teams, including a struggling Aston Martin, faced early challenges.
Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in a chaotic first practice for the Australian GP, leading a Ferrari one-two over Lewis Hamilton. The session featured multiple red flags, including stops for Lando Norris and Alex Albon, while Aston Martin endured a nightmare with almost no running.
Charles Leclerc led a tight FP1 session for Ferrari at the Australian GP, with Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar a surprise second and Lewis Hamilton third. Max Verstappen finished fourth, over six-tenths off the pace, in a session that provided initial clues on the Melbourne pecking order.
