The 2026 F1 season kicked off with Friday practice at the Australian Grand Prix, providing the first on-track action and early storylines from Melbourne's Albert Park circuit as teams began their crucial weekend setup work.
George Russell faces a dual FIA investigation following FP2 at the Australian GP. The Mercedes driver made contact with Arvid Lindblad's Racing Bulls car in the pit lane and is also under scrutiny for a practice start procedure. The outcome could impact his starting position for the race.
Timo Glock calls Aston Martin's 2026 season start "disastrous" as crippling Honda power unit issues leave the car unraceable. The former driver questions the team's oversight and raises the drastic possibility of ending the new partnership early, threatening the foundations of Lawrence Stroll's ambitious project.
Oscar Piastri led a tight second practice for McLaren at his home Australian Grand Prix, with Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli stunning by going second fastest. The session hinted at a reshuffle under the new 2026 rules, with Ferrari solid but Red Bull surprisingly off the pace and Aston Martin struggling dramatically.
Oscar Piastri led a dramatic and incident-filled second practice at his home Australian Grand Prix, topping the timesheets for McLaren. The session was disrupted by multiple incidents involving George Russell and Max Verstappen, alongside significant reliability problems for Sergio Perez, Carlos Sainz, and Aston Martin, leaving several teams with limited running.
Oscar Piastri led a tight Friday practice for McLaren at his home Australian GP, but Mercedes and Ferrari showed strong pace. Max Verstappen's session was compromised by technical problems, while Ferrari's early speed faded, hinting at a close and unpredictable qualifying battle.
Aston Martin's Australian GP weekend began disastrously as both cars were sidelined in FP1 with power unit issues, prompting concern from ambassador Jenson Button. Technical chief Adrian Newey revealed severe chassis vibrations are causing part failures and, more critically, risking permanent nerve damage to the drivers' hands, forcing extreme lap limits for the race.
Toto Wolff has played down Mercedes' status as pre-season favorites after a challenging FP1 in Australia, citing software
Aston Martin faces a critical shortage of working Honda power unit batteries at the Australian GP, with only two remaining. Team principal Adrian Newey admits feeling "powerless" over severe engine vibrations that limit driver laps due to nerve damage risk and prevent the team from developing its car, calling the situation "scary."
Aston Martin is in a dire situation at the Australian GP, with Team Principal Adrian Newey confirming they have only two working batteries left due to a severe vibration issue with the new Honda power unit. The crisis has drastically reduced track time, stifling car development and leaving the team scrambling just to get both cars on the grid for the race.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has placed the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix under serious threat of cancellation. With no feasible option to postpone or replace the events, F1 faces the stark possibility of a six-week gap in the calendar, prioritizing safety over sport as a final decision looms within two weeks.
McLaren's Oscar Piastri topped the timesheets in second practice at his home grand prix, leading a competitive session where the top ten were separated by less than six-tenths of a second. Fernando Alonso was a standout in second, while championship leader Max Verstappen struggled with his car's balance, finishing sixth.
