FP1 Report: Leclerc Tops Opening Session of the 2026 Era

Leclerc Sets the First Benchmark of 2026

Charles Leclerc led the timesheets at the conclusion of FP1 at Albert Park, putting the Ferrari SF-26 on top in the very first competitive session of the new technical era. Lewis Hamilton was second and Max Verstappen third -- a top three that immediately signalled the championship fight would be multi-team from the outset.

The session served primarily as a systems validation exercise. With entirely new power unit architectures and revised aerodynamic regulations in play, all eleven teams prioritised installation laps, power unit calibration, and baseline data collection over raw lap time performance. Tyre behaviour on the C4 compound was closely monitored, with engineers seeking to understand how the new-specification cars interact with Pirelli's 2026 construction.

Ferrari's Early Confidence

Leclerc's P1 will be noted with quiet satisfaction at Maranello, though the team were careful not to overinterpret a first-practice result. The SF-26 appeared stable through the Albert Park medium-speed sequences, and Hamilton -- in his first competitive session in Ferrari red -- showed no apparent adaptation penalty. The true competitive order will only crystallise as fuel loads are equalised and soft-compound qualifying simulations are run on Saturday.

Verstappen and Red Bull

Third place for Verstappen in a session where lap times carry limited meaning is difficult to read. Red Bull arrive in Melbourne with the most scrutinised car on the grid -- the RB22 has been the subject of considerable speculation following a winter in which the team described the chassis development direction as the most ambitious in years.

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Mercedes: Watching and Waiting

George Russell and Kimi Antonelli conducted methodical, low-drama runs for Mercedes. The Silver Arrows did not show their hand in FP1 -- a familiar approach for a team that has historically targeted qualifying and race pace rather than practice headlines. Antonelli, in particular, was monitored closely as he completed his first competitive laps in an F1 car since his promotion. By session end he was running consistent sector times and remained incident-free throughout.

Debutants and New Arrivals

The expanded 2026 grid completed its first competitive kilometres without major incident. Cadillac turned representative laps in both cars. Gabriel Bortoleto gave Audi their first competitive running under the new manufacturer identity. Arvid Lindblad, at 18 the youngest driver on the grid, completed a clean FP1 on his way to what the team described as a textbook data-gathering afternoon.