2026 Australian Grand Prix – Free Practice 1 F1 results (Albert Park)

Charles Leclerc headed a Ferrari one-two from Lewis Hamilton in the opening hour of practice ahead of this weekend’s Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.

Leclerc and Hamilton featured towards the top of the timesheets throughout the session, with Max Verstappen third fastest as Aston Martin logged just three laps across both its cars.

Charles Leclerc leads Ferrari one-two as Aston Martin complete just three laps

Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google for news you can trust.

It was an awkward start to the session, with Aston Martin confirming a power unit issue would prevent Fernando Alonso from taking part, while Oscar Piastri suffered a loss of power and Arvid Lindblad stopped as he exited the pit lane.

The latter two were promptly resolved, Lindblad by virtue of the Virtual Safety Car as marshals wheeled it back into the pits, allowing meaningful running to begin in earnest.

Max Verstappen set the early running but was quickly usurped by Charles Leclerc through the middle part of the session.

Verstappen then logged a 1:20.789s to top proceedings by 0.04s with 15 minutes to go, with Isack Hadjar in the second Red Bull holding third.

Moments later, Lewis Hamilton rose from fourth with a 1:20.736s just before the Virtual Safety Car was deployed when Alex Albon’s Williams suffered an apparent hydraulic failure.

Aston Martin cut its session short; while Alonso never ventured out, Lance Stroll logged only three timed laps – not of them at racing speed – before his session was called off.

At McLaren, Lando Norris climbed out of his McLaren midway through the hour, leaving him down the order.

The session ended with Leclerc ultimately besting Hamilton by 0.469s with Verstappen third best less than a tenth slower.

Hadjar was fourth while Lindblad began his F1 career with fifth in the opening practice hour.

Oscar Piastri was sixth fastest with a late lap ahead of George Russell in the leading Mercedes, one place up from Kimi Antonelli. Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg rounded out the Top 10 for Audi.

F1 2026 Results: Australian Grand Prix, Free Practice 1

1. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 1:20.267
2. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, 1:20.736
3. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1:20.789
4. Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing, 1:21.087
5. Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls, 1:21.313
6. Oscar Piastri, McLaren, 1:21.342
7. George Russell, Mercedes, 1:21.371
8. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, 1:21.376
9. Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi, 1:21.696
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Audi, 1:21.969
11. Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, 1:22.161
12. Carlos Sainz, Williams, 1:22.323
13. Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls, 1:22.613
14. Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, 1:22.682
15. Alex Albon, Williams, 1:23.130
16. Franco Colapinto, Alpine, 1:23.325
17. Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac, 1:24.022
18. Pierre Gasly, Alpine, 1:24.035
19. Lando Norris, McLaren, 1:24.391
20. Sergio Perez, Cadillac, 1:24.620
21. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin, 1:50.334
22. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin

Read Next: Australian GP: Leclerc tops first F1 2026 practice in Ferrari 1-2 as Norris sidelined

Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.

You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!