Watch the highlights from FP1 in Australia as 2026 kicks off

Ferrari made a strong start to the 2026 F1 campaign at the Australian Grand Prix's opening practice session in Melbourne. Charles Leclerc topped the charts with a 1m 20.267s lap, closely followed by teammate Lewis Hamilton, securing a dominant 1-2 for the Scuderia. Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar were next, while rookie Arvid Lindblad impressed with fifth. Home favorite Oscar Piastri, Mercedes duo George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, and Audi pair Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg also featured in the top ten. However, the session wasn't without drama, as Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll encountered power unit troubles, Lando Norris faced gearbox issues, and Alex Albon suffered a hydraulics problem.