Leclerc leads Ferrari 1-2 in first practice of 2026

Charles Leclerc led a dominant Ferrari one-two in the opening practice session of the 2026 season in Australia, with teammate Lewis Hamilton securing P2. Red Bull's Max Verstappen finished third. The session, marking the debut of new technical regulations and teams like Cadillac, saw various incidents including power issues for Oscar Piastri and Fernando Alonso, and early exits for Lando Norris due to gearbox checks and Alex Albon with a halt. Leclerc posted a formidable 1m 20.267s, completing 32 laps. Young talent Arvid Lindblad impressed with fifth place for Racing Bulls, while Isack Hadjar also showed strong pace for Red Bull, finishing fourth.