Piastri Tops Australian GP Practice as Aston Martin's Crisis Deepens

Oscar Piastri set the fastest time in Friday's second practice session for the Australian Grand Prix, but the day was overshadowed by a deepening crisis at Aston Martin and pointed criticism from F1's top boss. Mercedes showed strong pace behind the local hero, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc led the opening session.

Why it matters:

The first official track running of the 2026 season revealed early competitive hints and significant operational dramas. Aston Martin's partnership with Honda appears to be in serious trouble, threatening their entire campaign before it properly begins. Meanwhile, public criticism from star drivers about the new regulations has drawn a sharp rebuke from Formula 1's leadership, highlighting internal tensions.

The details:

• Practice Results: Oscar Piastri (McLaren) topped FP2 with a 1:19.729, followed by the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, confirming their pre-season favorite status. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) was fastest in FP1.
• Aston Martin's Honda Nightmare: New Team Principal Adrian Newey placed blame squarely on engine supplier Honda, revealing a dire situation.
  • He stated only 30% of Honda's championship-winning engine team from its previous partnership remains.
  • The project is "firmly behind schedule," leaving the team with just two battery units total, both currently in the cars.
  • Fernando Alonso missed all of FP1 due to a power unit issue.
• Stewards' Room Activity: George Russell was investigated for two FP2 incidents—a pit lane collision with Arvid Lindblad (VCARB) and performing practice starts in an unauthorized area. He escaped penalties, receiving only a reprimand and a warning.
• Leadership Clash: F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali criticized Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen for publicly disparaging the new 2026 regulations, calling it "wrong" to speak badly about the sport.

What's next:

All eyes will be on whether Aston Martin can get both cars running reliably for Saturday's qualifying, a monumental task given their severe parts shortage. The competitive order between McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari will begin to crystallize, while the drivers' response to Domenicali's comments may set the tone for off-track discussions this weekend.