F1 Australian Grand Prix
Charles Leclerc leads first practice of 2026 F1 Australian Grand Prix
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Ferrari's Charles Leclerc topped the opening practice session of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Australian Grand Prix, ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull's Max Verstappen. The session highlighted early troubles for McLaren and Aston Martin, while new teams Cadillac and Audi showed respectable debuts. Leclerc's final lap time of 1m20.267s set the pace in the new regulations era.
Mercedes secured a one-two finish at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, but Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished third and fourth, signaling potential for the Italian team. Team principal Fred Vasseur expressed satisfaction with Hamilton's performance despite qualifying challenges. The race highlighted competitive midfield battles under new regulations.