Ferrari emerged as one of the strongest teams after the opening two practice sessions of the Australian Grand Prix 2026 at Albert Park, showing impressive pace under the new Formula 1 regulations.
Good points
Ferrari dominated FP1 with a 1-2 finish, with Charles Leclerc topping the session and Lewis Hamilton finishing second. The team demonstrated strong straight-line speed, recording some of the highest top speeds across sectors.
Both drivers appeared comfortable with the car during qualifying simulations as well as early long runs. Ferrari also looked well adapted to the new 2026 regulations, with the car showing balanced performance across Albert Park’s mix of corners.
Lewis Hamilton’s integration into the team has also been positive so far, with the driver giving encouraging early feedback on the car’s behaviour.
Bad points
In FP2, Ferrari were slightly edged on outright pace by McLaren drivers in some reports, although the gap remained small and Ferrari still appeared competitive.
Charles Leclerc also mentioned minor balance instability, indicating that the team may still need small setup adjustments ahead of qualifying.
Overall outlook
After the first two practice sessions, Ferrari appear to be clear frontrunners, with strong pace and consistency putting them among the leading candidates for pole position and race pace in Melbourne.