Charles Leclerc of Ferrari topped the timesheets in the first practice session for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, continuing the strong form shown during pre-season testing in Bahrain. The Monegasque driver secured a lap time of 1m20.267s in the closing moments of the session at Albert Park in Melbourne. This sets an early marker as the Formula 1 season gets underway in Australia.
A dominant performance from Ferrari saw Lewis Hamilton secure second place, just under half a second behind Leclerc, completing a 1-2 for the Italian team. The Red Bull Racing duo of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar followed, having battled with the Ferraris for the top spot throughout the FP1 session. The session wasn’t without its challenges for other teams, with several experiencing early issues.
The Australian Grand Prix weekend began under sunny skies with an ambient temperature of 20 degrees Celsius and a track temperature of 33 degrees Celsius. The session saw drivers initially utilizing the medium compound tires (Pirelli C4) as they began to find their rhythm.
Leclerc Leads, Hamilton Close Behind
After a period of back-and-forth at the top, Leclerc ultimately secured the fastest time. Hamilton’s performance demonstrates Ferrari’s early pace, suggesting they are strong contenders this weekend. Verstappen and Hadjar, even as not leading, remained within striking distance, indicating Red Bull will also be competitive. The gap between the top four was relatively small, promising a thrilling qualifying session.
Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad, a debutant, impressed with a fifth-place finish, just over a second off Leclerc’s pace. Local favorite Oscar Piastri secured sixth for McLaren, though he was the only McLaren driver to complete the session due to issues with Lando Norris’s car.
Midfield Battle and Challenges for Aston Martin and Cadillac
Mercedes, considered pre-race favorites, appeared to be holding back, with George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli finishing seventh and eighth respectively. Audi showed promising pace, placing both drivers within the top ten, with Gabriel Bortoleto ninth and Nico Hulkenberg tenth.
Alpine’s Franco Colapinto achieved 16th place with a lap time of 1m23.325, while Sergio Pérez of Cadillac struggled, finishing 20th – nearly four seconds off the pace. Aston Martin encountered problems, preventing both Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso from setting competitive times during FP1.
Early in the session, Esteban Ocon set the initial pace with a time of 1m34.589. However, issues quickly arose for several drivers. Arvid Lindblad experienced a stoppage at the pit lane exit, requiring his Racing Bulls car to be returned to the garage. Oscar Piastri also briefly lost power in his McLaren before continuing. Colapinto briefly held the fastest time with a 1m27.466, before being overtaken by George Russell’s 1m26.483 as times improved.
Shifting Positions and Late Improvements
Throughout the session, Leclerc and Hadjar traded the lead multiple times. Leclerc initially displaced Verstappen with a time of 1m22.080, but Hadjar responded with a 1m21.888. Leclerc then reclaimed the top spot with a 1m21.635, only for Hadjar to briefly lead again with a 1m21.460.
Pérez, after a unhurried start, improved his time to 1m27.407 but remained off the pace. A Virtual Safety Car (VSC) was deployed late in the session when Alex Albon’s Williams stopped on track with an apparent hydraulic failure.
As the track cooled and the checkered flag approached, Leclerc capitalized on the conditions, setting a final lap time of 1m20.267, securing P1. Hamilton finished second, completing a strong 1-2 for Ferrari, with a time of 1m20.736.
The second practice session will continue the Formula 1 action in Melbourne. Click here for the schedule for Latin America.
Australian Grand Prix – FP1 Results
PL1 – All Statistics
The Australian Grand Prix weekend is shaping up to be a competitive one, with Ferrari demonstrating strong pace in FP1. The second practice session will provide further insight into the pecking order as teams continue to refine their setups for qualifying and the race.
Share your thoughts on the first practice session and who you think will perform well this weekend in the comments below!