By Blessing Nweke
Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton delivered an early statement in the new Formula 1 era after finishing first and second in the opening practice session of the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Leclerc topped the session with a late flying lap, edging Hamilton by 0.469 seconds around the Albert Park circuit. Before Leclerc’s final push, less than a tenth of a second separated Hamilton, Leclerc and reigning champion Max Verstappen, highlighting how tightly matched the leading teams appeared during the opening run.
Verstappen ended the session third for Red Bull Racing, while his new teammate Isack Hadjar impressed with the fourth-fastest time, 0.820 seconds behind Leclerc. Another notable performance came from 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad, who finished fifth on his debut for Racing Bulls.
The session proved difficult for Aston Martin F1 Team. Veteran driver Fernando Alonso was unable to set a lap due to a Honda power-unit problem, while teammate Lance Stroll completed only three laps before an engine issue forced him to stop.
Team principal Adrian Newey said the team continued to struggle with severe vibrations from the Honda engine, which could risk nerve damage in Alonso’s hands if the problem persists. Newey also revealed the team has only two batteries remaining, raising concerns about reliability across the race weekend.
Pre-season favorites Mercedes F1 Team endured a quiet session, with George Russell finishing seventh and rookie Kimi Antonelli eighth as both drivers battled understeer and energy-deployment issues.
Oscar Piastri placed ahead of Russell for McLaren F1 Team, while reigning champion Lando Norris struggled with gearbox trouble and ended the session down in 19th.
With teams running varying fuel loads and engine modes, the true competitive order may not become clear until qualifying later in the weekend
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