Ferrari made a strong start to the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix 2026 weekend, with Charles Leclerc topping the timesheets in Practice 1 at Albert Park, Melbourne. The Ferrari driver clocked a best lap of 1:20.267, finishing ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton, who secured second place to complete a Ferrari one-two.
Reigning champion Max Verstappen placed third for Red Bull Racing, just over half a second behind Leclerc. Red Bull’s young driver Isack Hadjar delivered an impressive performance to finish fourth, showing strong pace early in the race weekend.
Ferrari and Red Bull show early pace
Ferrari looked comfortable during the opening session, with both drivers reporting positive car balance under the new regulations. Leclerc set the fastest time on a late run using soft tyres, while Hamilton stayed close behind throughout the session.
Red Bull also appeared competitive, with Verstappen maintaining consistent pace. Hadjar’s fourth-place finish highlighted a strong start for the young driver, who adapted quickly to the Albert Park circuit.
Rookie Arvid Lindblad impresses on debut
One of the standout stories of the session was Arvid Lindblad, who placed fifth for Racing Bulls during his first Formula 1 race weekend. His performance placed him ahead of several experienced drivers and drew attention early in the weekend.
Mixed session for other teams
McLaren faced difficulties during the session. Oscar Piastri managed sixth place but reported power delivery issues, while Lando Norris, the 2025 world champion, completed only seven laps due to a gearbox problem, leaving him down in nineteenth.
Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli finished seventh and eighth, showing stable but unspectacular pace during the early running.
New entrant Audi placed both drivers inside the top ten, with Gabriel Bortoleto ninth and Nico Hulkenberg tenth, suggesting encouraging early pace for the team.
Technical issues for Aston Martin and others
The session also saw technical troubles for Aston Martin, with both cars experiencing power unit problems. Lance Stroll completed only three laps, finishing at the bottom of the standings.
There were no major crashes or red flags, though minor issues such as a hydraulic leak on Alexander Albon’s Williams briefly triggered yellow flags.
With Practice 1 complete, attention now shifts to Practice 2, where teams will continue setup work and race simulations ahead of qualifying and the Australian Grand Prix scheduled for March 8 at Albert Park.