By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE, March 6 (Reuters) - Charles Leclerc led a Ferrari 1-2 at the top of the timesheet in the Australian Grand Prix's first practice, while defending champion Lando Norris suffered a gearbox issue as Formula One's new engine era launched with a spate of reliability problems.

Liam Lawson has been solid, but not spectacular on the opening day of the 2026 Formula One season The Kiwi came away with two 13th-placed finishes in the weekend’s first practice sessions, putting in 57 laps as all 22 drivers came to grips with cars constructed under new regulations for the first time.

McLarens Oscar Piastri tops second practice from Mercedes Kimi Antonelli and George Russell; Lewis Hamilton fourth as Ferrari show potential; watch Australian Grand Prix qualifying at 5am on Saturday

F1 has expanded to eleven teams for the 2026 season, and new entrants Cadillac are looking for the best possible outcome.

Oscar Piastri set the Australian crowd’s hearts aflutter as the McLaren driver went quickest in the second practice session in Melbourne. The McLaren driver led a Mercedes-powered 1-2-3 in the afternoon session at Albert Park, with Kimi Antonelli and George Russell joining Piastri at the front.

Formula 1's Aston Martin team principal Adrian Newey says his group was blindsided by the fact its then-incoming works power unit partner Honda had only retained about 30% of its original world championship-winning staff going into the project.

By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE, March 6 (Reuters) - Oscar Piastri delighted home fans by putting McLaren top of the timesheets in the second free practice for the Australian Grand Prix on Friday as struggling Aston Martin had a minor win by nursing both cars through laps.

Mercedes are streets ahead of the pack going into Sunday’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix, according to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Although it was McLaren’s Oscar Piastri who finished day one of practice top of the timesheets,

Ferrari enjoyed a 1-2 in the opening practice session of 2026 in Melbourne, before Oscar Piastri took his McLaren top in the afternoon.

Mercedes-AMG and Ferrari may be the 2026 F1 season favourites, but it didn’t stop

The highly anticipated 2026 Formula 1 season is set to begin with the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne’s iconic Albert Park Circuit. As the opening race of the new F1 campaign, the event is expected to draw massive global attention from motorsport fans eager to see teams and drivers begin their battle for the championship.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has again taken aim at F1’s new technical regulations ahead of the new season, calling them “pretty complicated” and that “it’s a bit late” for last-minute rule