Leclerc: Mercedes shows 'very impressive' race pace in Australian GP practice

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc believes Mercedes revealed a glimpse of formidable long-run pace during Friday practice at the Australian Grand Prix, suggesting the Silver Arrows' 2026 title-favorite status may be justified. Despite Ferrari topping FP1 and McLaren leading FP2, Leclerc pointed to Mercedes' performance on high fuel as the standout of the day, indicating a potential performance gap his team must overcome.

Why it matters:

Mercedes entered the season as the consensus favorite after pre-season testing, and their rivals are now seeing tangible evidence on track. If their race-pace advantage holds, it could set an early tone for the championship battle, forcing Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull to play catch-up from the opening rounds.

The details:

• Leclerc, who finished fifth in FP2, specifically highlighted Mercedes' high-fuel runs as "very, very strong" and "very impressive," marking the first clear indication of their potential this weekend.
• While Ferrari showed promising one-lap speed with a 1-2 in FP1, Leclerc admitted the team seems "on the back foot" compared to Mercedes after the second session.
• Mercedes drivers offered mixed reviews. Lewis Hamilton called it a "really good day," while George Russell described FP1 as a "tough session" with energy deployment and understeer issues before a "positive step" in FP2.
• Sky Sports F1's Martin Brundle observed Mercedes' long runs were "blindingly fast."
• Other contenders faced setbacks. McLaren's Lando Norris lost crucial track time with reliability issues in FP1, leaving him "a little bit behind." Red Bull's Max Verstappen had a disrupted FP2, spending half the session in the garage after a trip through the gravel.

What's next:

All eyes turn to Saturday's final practice and qualifying to see if Mercedes can convert its strong race pace into a front-row grid position. Ferrari and McLaren will work overnight to close the gap, while Red Bull and Norris face a recovery mission. The true competitive order will become clearer, but Mercedes has served the first warning shot of the weekend.