The opening Free Practice session of the Australian Grand Prix delivered early drama as multiple teams ran into technical issues during the first competitive outing of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Albert Park Circuit.
The session began with brief problems for Oscar Piastri and rookie Arvid Lindblad. Both drivers encountered early setbacks during the opening minutes of FP1, though their teams were able to resolve the issues relatively quickly and return them to the track.
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Driving very slowly to one side of the circuit, “I’ve got no power,” said Piastri on the McLaren team radio. “I’m idling, but I have no power.”
Meanwhile, Lindblad stopped just outside the pit lane exit. Marshals had to push the car back into the pit lane, triggering the session’s first Virtual Safety Car. Racing Bulls eventually recovered the situation and returned the car to the track.
Lando Norris Misses Running While Alex Albon Encounters Reliability Issues
Lando Norris lost valuable track time after McLaren opted to change the gearbox on his car during the session. The precautionary switch kept the British driver in the garage for an extended period, limiting his running early in the opening practice session of the season.
“As a precautionary measure, we’ve decided to remove it and check it to ensure we don’t compromise FP2,” McLaren said, as Norris clocked out after just seven laps.
Williams also encountered reliability concerns when Alexander Albon came to a halt on track with a suspected hydraulics issue. The problem forced the Thai driver to stop his car during the session, briefly interrupting the run while marshals recovered the stranded vehicle.
Aston Martin Struggles as Fernando Alonso Sits Out
Aston Martin endured one of the most difficult sessions of the morning, with Fernando Alonso unable to participate due to a power unit issue that kept his car in the garage throughout FP1.
“We found a suspected power unit-related issue which will prevent car #14 from participating in FP1,” Honda Racing F1 issued a short statement before the session began.
His teammate, Lance Stroll, managed to complete only three laps before encountering a similar issue, bringing Aston Martin’s running to an early end.
Aston Martin’s difficulties in Melbourne come amid broader concerns about vibrations from its Honda power unit. Team principal Adrian Newey told reporters yesterday at Albert Park that the vibrations can travel through the steering wheel and into the drivers’ hands.
“Fernando is of the feeling that he can’t do more than 25 laps consecutively before he will risk permanent nerve damage to his hands,” Newey said, adding that Lance Stroll faces similar limitations during longer runs.
Perez Spins, Colapinto Runs Wide, Verstappen Locks Up
Elsewhere, Sergio Perez briefly lost control of his Cadillac, spinning into the runoff area at Turn 4. The incident also compromised Piastri’s run, as he had just fitted soft tires and started his first flying lap before yellow flags forced him to lift off.
Meanwhile, with the session nearing its halfway point, Franco Colapinto had a moment of his own after running wide at Turn 3.
Max Verstappen also experienced a front-right lock-up during braking, sending a plume of smoke into the air as he approached the corner. Moments like this may become more common this season, as drivers adjust to slightly reduced braking grip under the current regulations.
The reduced downforce could also influence corner exits, with cars expected to slide more when accelerating out of turns. That dynamic may open the door for more overtaking opportunities throughout the season.
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Amid the incidents across the grid, Ferrari ended the session on top as Charles Leclerc set the fastest time of FP1 with a 1:20.267. Teammate Lewis Hamilton followed in second, while Max Verstappen placed third to complete the top three in the opening practice session at Albert Park.
With Ferrari setting the early pace and several teams dealing with reliability concerns, the opening session provided a dramatic start to the 2026 Australian Grand Prix weekend as teams now turn their attention to the remaining practice sessions.