FP1 Highlights | 2026 Australian Grand Prix

Formula 1 is back down under for the

first round of the 2026 season. After

six days of testing in Bahrain, it's

time to see who the big hitters are

ahead of the season opener on Sunday.

And there was early drama for home hero

Oscar Pastri. The McLaren man taking a

leisurely first tour of the Albert Park

circuit.

>> Uh, I've got no power. Yeah, I'm idling,

but I' I've got no throttle. obviously

had a a power cut there, so not able to

to put anything through the

transmission. And now he's managed to to

reboot it then with some settings on the

wheel. I'm sure there would have been a

big dialogue going on. The Aussie was

able to get up to speed before reporting

further issues.

>> There's there's something that's still

not right. The power delivery is not

something's not right.

>> And it wasn't smooth sailing on the

other side of the garage either. The new

world champion Lando Norris struggling

with the gearbox of his MCL40. The Brit

claimed seven wins last season,

including pole, fastest lap, and victory

here 12 months ago. But the champ ended

the session with just seven laps and the

19th fastest time. His friend and foe

Maxappen got away with one entering turn

three, the Dutchman locking attire,

avoiding the wall as he pushed on the

yellow ringed rubber. Vstappen returns

having missed out on the driver's title

by just two points in 2025. The Dutchman

taking a season high eight wins in the

process. Alpine's Franco Colopinto found

the gravel at the same turn later on.

You are lucky to get away without

scraping the car through the gravel at

FP1 level. So drivers have to make sure

they keep these things on the track

again for that learning. Be there at the

end and get some laps on the board. And

there were teething troubles for F1's

only rookie this season. Arvid Lindlad

coming to a halt as he exited the pit

lane. and the young Brit wheeled back to

the garage before returning to set the

session's fifth fastest time. For the

first time in a decade, there are 22

cars on the grid for 2026. The latest

additions being Cadillac, who employ one

of the most experienced lineups of

Sergio Perez and Fry Botas. And the Finn

got up close and personal with former

teammate Lewis Hamilton as he explored

the circuit early on.

>> I got fully blocked by Lewis.

>> Yeah.

>> Okay. Teammate Sergio Perez had a spin

late on. The Mexican bouncing across the

curbs on a late push lap.

>> Yeah, I'm having a lot of fuel breaking.

I had a massive one there.

>> Two teams were at the top of the times

in FP1. Ferrari and Red Bull separated

by half a second as the checker flag

flew in Melbourne. And despite a

formation shunt here 12 months ago,

Isaac Hajar impressed on debut for Red

Bull. The Frenchman fourth fastest even

with a trip beyond the boundaries at

turn one.

>> Wa, that was a big lift up.

>> But it was Charlotte who was fastest.

The Monagas clocking in at a 120 267,

4/10 faster than teammate Lewis Hamilton

in P2. Alex Alburn admitted his Williams

needed to go on a diet ahead of the new

season, the growthbased outfit aware

there's a mountain to climb to match

their P5 finish last season. And despite

a healthy number of laps in FP1, Alvin

Session came to an early end thanks to a

hydraulic issue.

>> Well, I've lost power steering and

everything.

>> Yeah, complete hydraulic pressure.

Yeah, you could see where the the moment

the power steering goes as well there.

So, he's lost the whole whack. Power

steering is the the classic giveaway as

you say that the hydraulics are gone.

It's the it's essential in Formula 1.

Aston Martin's tricky preseason

continued in FP1. Art Stroll completed

just three laps while teammate Fernando

Alonzo was unable to leave the garage.

Starts the season on top ahead of

Hamilton, Vnappen, Hajar and Lindlad.

Sixth for Pastri, ahead of Russell,

Antonelli, Bortalto and Hulenberg. Esman

Oon ends FP1 in 11th from SCS Lawson,

Bareman Alburn and Collar Pinto as

Botas, Gazzley, Norris Perez, and the

Aston Martins rounded out the runners.