Leclerc leads Ferrari 1-2 in first practice of F1's new era at Australian GP

Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets for Ferrari in the first practice session of Formula 1's new 2026 era at the Australian Grand Prix, leading teammate Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull's Max Verstappen. The session, which saw teams scramble to understand their complex new machinery, was marred by significant reliability issues for McLaren and a complete no-show for Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso.

Why it matters:

This session offered the first true glimpse of the competitive order under the radically new 2026 technical regulations. With cars initially around five seconds slower than last year, the focus was on reliability and system checks rather than outright pace, making the early troubles for several top teams a major concern for the weekend ahead.

The details:

• Ferrari's Strong Start: Leclerc set a last-minute lap of 1m20.267s on soft tires to demote Hamilton, securing a provisional Ferrari 1-2. This marks an encouraging initial step for the Scuderia with its new SF-26 car and for Hamilton's first official outing as a Ferrari driver.
• Widespread Reliability Woes: The session highlighted the teething problems expected with new regulations.
  • McLaren: Oscar Piastri reported a complete loss of throttle, stating he was "idling, but I've got no throttle." Teammate and reigning champion Lando Norris suffered from gearshift issues, forcing the team to end his session after just seven laps for a gearbox investigation.
  • Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso did not turn a wheel after Honda discovered a "suspected power unit-related issue" on his car. Teammate Lance Stroll managed only three slow installation laps.
• Session Incidents: The hour was punctuated by several stoppages. Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad caused an early Virtual Safety Car by stalling at pit exit. Williams's Alex Albon triggered a late VSC after stopping on track with a suspected hydraulic leak. Sergio Perez also had a spin in the new Cadillac due to excessive engine braking.
• Encouraging Debuts: Red Bull's new recruit Isack Hadjar impressed to finish fourth. Cadillac, F1's 11th team, had a respectable debut with Perez and Valtteri Bottas within four seconds of the front, despite Perez's spin.

What's next:

Teams have limited time to analyze data and address the myriad of issues before FP2. The pressure is on McLaren and Aston Martin to find fixes overnight. While single-lap pace in FP1 is rarely representative, Ferrari's trouble-free run and strong showing will provide a morale boost, setting the stage for a crucial second practice session where teams will begin more focused performance runs.