6 March 2026The RaceRace reportPractice report
Mercedes and Russell emerge as clear pace‑setters in Australian practice despite energy‑saving constraints
Mercedes and George Russell posted the fastest long‑run times in Australian practice, demonstrating superior energy‑management under the new 2026 regulations. A clear four‑car front group emerged, leaving the midfield to fight for pace and points.
Quick take: Friday’s Australian practice showed Mercedes and George Russell as the fastest over race‑distance runs, even though the new 2026 power‑unit’s energy‑management rules kept everyone from using full‑throttle all the way. The session highlighted a clear split between a four‑car front‑group and the rest of the field.
Why it matters:
- Championship outlook: Long‑run speed is the best proxy for race performance under the 2026 hybrid rules, so Mercedes’ advantage puts Russell in a strong position for the season opener.
- Energy strategy: Teams that can harvest and deploy battery power efficiently will dominate; Mercedes appears to have cracked that formula first.
- Midfield reshuffle: Racing Bulls, Audi and Alpine are the fastest of the pack, suggesting a new hierarchy beyond the traditional top‑three.
The details:
- Single‑lap hierarchy (fastest to slowest):
- McLaren 1:19.729 s
- Mercedes +0.241 s
- Ferrari +0.321 s
- Red Bull +0.637 s
- Racing Bulls +1.193 s …
- Long‑run averages (hard/medium/soft tyres):
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:23.714 over 11 laps (hard)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 1:24.412 over 5 laps (hard)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:24.848 over 5 laps (soft)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – limited data, ~1:24.7 on two laps
- Energy‑saving tactics: Piastri saved battery charge for the final straight, delaying full V6/MGU‑K output until the lap’s end. Russell’s 11‑lap run showed consistent harvesting, giving him a half‑second edge over Ferrari’s best long‑run.
What’s next:
- Teams will spend Saturday fine‑tuning battery‑harvest maps and aerodynamic balance to close the gap to Mercedes.
- If Russell can translate his practice pace to race conditions, a podium on Sunday looks likely, while Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull will be scrambling for any efficiency gains.
- The midfield battle will intensify as Audi, Racing Bulls and Alpine try to convert their solid long‑run numbers into points.