Leclerc Leads Ferrari One-Two in Australian Grand Prix Practice

Charles Leclerc of Ferrari set the fastest time in the first practice session of the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, edging out teammate Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen. The session marked the first practice for the new generation of Formula 1 cars following a significant technical regulations reset.

Session Highlights

Leclerc achieved a lap time of 1m 22.080s, finishing ahead of Hamilton. Verstappen secured the third-fastest time. The session saw early challenges for several drivers, including Oscar Piastri of McLaren, who reported a power issue, and Arvid Lindblad of Racing Bulls, who experienced a technical problem that required his car to be wheeled back to the pit lane. Formula 1 reports these early issues.

Aston Martin Faces Challenges

Aston Martin encountered significant difficulties during the practice session. Fernando Alonso did not participate due to a suspected power unit issue, and Lance Stroll managed only three laps before experiencing a similar problem. Team principal Adrian Newey indicated that vibrations from the Honda power unit were a concern, potentially causing nerve damage to the drivers. BBC Sport details the severity of Aston Martin’s power unit problems.

Audi Makes Formula 1 Debut

The practice session also marked the Formula 1 debut for Audi, with Nico Hülkenberg becoming the first driver to take an Audi car onto the track. Hülkenberg and teammate Gabriel Bortoleto achieved ninth and tenth place respectively, a promising start for the new team. Formula 1 highlights Audi’s debut performance.

Performance Data and New Regulations

The new cars, featuring electric motors contributing almost half of their power, were approximately three seconds slower than in the first practice session in Australia in the previous year. This was anticipated given the changes in technical regulations. Formula 1 notes the performance difference related to the new regulations.

Looking Ahead

The first practice session provided initial insights into the performance of the new cars, and teams. Further sessions will be crucial for refining strategies and optimizing performance as the Australian Grand Prix weekend progresses.