Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli had a frightening high-G crash in FP3 at Albert Park but emerged unscathed. The heavy impact, which triggered a red flag, severely damaged his car, putting his participation in qualifying in serious jeopardy as his team races to complete repairs.
Lewis Hamilton created a viral moment at the Australian GP by telling fans he owns a cow named Max, insisting he inherited the animal and didn't choose the name. The humorous admission, which he linked to filling the void left by his late dog Roscoe, sparked a wave of jokes and reactions online, playfully nodding to his rivalry with Max Verstappen.
Follow live coverage as F1 teams battle for grid position in Melbourne. After a Friday where McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc traded fastest times, qualifying will decide who starts where for a race where track position is king.
The FIA reinstated a Straight Mode zone at Albert Park for the Australian GP after initially removing it over safety fears. Following new data from teams, the governing body reversed its decision, highlighting the collaborative process in balancing overtaking opportunities with driver safety on the fast Lakeside Drive section.
The FIA has removed the Turn 8-9 section of Albert Park from F1's new 'straight mode' zones for the Australian GP after drivers raised safety concerns. Data showed some cars were losing more downforce than expected in the low-drag configuration through the curved complex, prompting a universal mandate for all teams to ensure safety over competitive parity.
The FIA has reinstated a straight mode zone at Albert Park for the Australian GP after teams pushed back against its removal. The governing body reversed its safety-driven decision hours before final practice, promising further evaluation that could still affect qualifying and the race.
In a dramatic late change, the FIA removed a designated active aerodynamics zone at the Australian GP due to driver safety concerns, forcing teams to radically alter their car setups just before final practice and throwing their weekend preparations into chaos.
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli's heavy crash in FP3 at the Australian GP has left his car with major damage, putting his participation in qualifying in serious jeopardy. The red-flag incident disrupted the session and now leaves his team with a frantic repair job ahead of the afternoon's qualifying hour.
The final practice session (FP3) for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix is underway, offering teams one last chance to perfect their setups before qualifying. Home hero Oscar Piastri led Friday's running, but with Mercedes and Ferrari looking strong and teams like Cadillac needing a data breakthrough, the true competitive picture remains to be seen in this crucial hour.
In a dramatic about-face, the FIA reinstated the fourth DRS zone for the Australian GP just an hour after removing it, bowing to intense pressure and analysis from F1 teams and drivers. The zone will be used in final practice, with further evaluation to follow.
The FIA has banned DRS use in the fourth activation zone at Albert Park after drivers reported unsafe, low-downforce conditions through the curved section between Turns 8 and 9. The late decision, made after analyzing Friday's data, requires all teams to reconfigure their cars, drawing criticism from some teams despite safety concerns.
Oscar Piastri led a Mercedes 2-3 in second practice for the Australian GP, but Aston Martin's crisis worsened as Adrian Newey blamed Honda for critical delays and a severe parts shortage. F1 CEO Domenicali also criticized Hamilton and Verstappen for their public complaints about the new rules.
