Who was fastest in FP1 at the 2026 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix?

Charles Leclerc was the fastest driver in FP1 at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, setting a time of 1:20.267.

Leclerc led the session for Ferrari, finishing 0.469 seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton in second. Max Verstappen was third, showing a competitive start to the season under new F1 regulations.

• Leclerc's clear pace indicated Ferrari's strong performance.
• Main rivals like Mercedes and Red Bull faced some technical issues early.
• Piastri set the fastest time in FP2 despite early setbacks.

This session was an early indicator of the competitiveness for the race weekend.

References: Sky Sports; The Race; ESPN; Formula One History; Speedcafe; Motorsport.com; Formula1.com; YouTube search