Round 1 of the 2026 F1 season headed down under for the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix 2026.
Russell takes pole with a 1:18.518 as Antonelli completes a Mercedes front-row lockout, with Hadjar third and Verstappen down in 20th after a dramatic session.
George Russell tops final practice in Australia as Mercedes Kimi Antonelli crashes heavily at Turn 2 ahead of Qualifying.
Oscar Piastri leads FP2 at the Australian Grand Prix ahead of Mercedes duo Antonelli and Russell.
Leclerc leads Ferrari 1-2 in first practice at the 2026 Australian GP ahead of Hamilton and Verstappen as F1’s new era begins in Melbourne.
Leclerc tops Bahrain testing as Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren set the pace ahead of the 2026 Australian Grand Prix showdown.
As Day 3 and pre-season testing came to a close, Charles Leclerc laid down a marker ahead of the Australian Grand Prix as Ferrari signalled early intent.
Day 2 saw Kimi Antonelli go top for Mercedes with a 1:32.803, while Ferrari unveil a rear-wing mechanism that flipped the top of the wing upside down, and prove they have the edge in race starts.
Day 1 of the second and final pre-season test saw Russell quickest, ahead of Piastri and Leclerc, with Norris fourth and Antonelli fifth.
Mercedes close the first of two tests on top as rivals trade blows, reliability questions emerge and the true pecking order remains unclear before Melbourne.