The first day of the 2026 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix ended on a high note, with homegrown star Oscar Piastri delivering a stellar performance, setting the fastest time in Free Practice 2 (FP2). Piastri stunned everyone with a lap time of 1:19.729 at Melbourne’s famous Albert Park Circuit, emerging as the fastest driver of the day.
This moment was a special one for Australian fans, as a driver from their own country topped their home Grand Prix. Piastri’s performance also signals a strong McLaren team this time around, with the other teams not far behind, and the competition is expected to be fierce.
Oscar Piastri’s Powerful Performance
McLaren’s young driver Oscar Piastri displayed excellent poise and speed in FP2. He clocked a 1:19.729 lap, nearly two-tenths of a second faster than second-place Kimi Antonelli.
McLaren’s car looked very stable and fast in this session. Piastri’s pace, especially in the mid-sector, gave him an edge over the other drivers. He received tremendous fan support while driving on his home track, which likely boosted his confidence.
If McLaren maintains this pace, Piastri could become a strong contender for the podium this race weekend.
Mercedes’ Strong Presence
The Mercedes team also performed well in the FP2 session. Young driver Kimi Antonelli finished second, while his teammate George Russell finished third.
This is a positive sign for Mercedes, as the team has significantly improved the car’s performance this season. Both Antonelli and Russell consistently posted fast laps and maintained their positions in the top three throughout the session.
Given Mercedes’ strategy and setup, it appears they can pose a strong challenge in qualifying as well.
Mixed Day for Ferrari
This session was a bit mixed for the Ferrari team. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton finished fourth, while his teammate Charles Leclerc finished fifth.
Both drivers set fast lap times, but fell slightly behind Piastri’s time. Nevertheless, Ferrari’s pace appeared competitive, making it clear they can remain in contention for victory.
The team still needs to work on car balance and tire management to improve their performance in qualifying.
Other Red Bull and McLaren drivers
Max Verstappen, star driver of defending champion Red Bull Racing, finished sixth in this session. While this is slightly behind his usual position, teams often test different setups and strategies in practice sessions.
Reigning world champion Lando Norris, meanwhile, finished seventh. McLaren’s car looked fast overall, but Norris couldn’t match his teammate Piastri’s time.
It will be interesting to see how these two drivers perform in qualifying and the race.
Tough competition in the midfield
The FP2 session also saw a close contest between the midfield teams. Arvid Lindblad finished eighth, while Isack Hadjar finished ninth.
Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman finished tenth and eleventh respectively for the Haas F1 Team. Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriele Bortoleto also performed well for the Audi team.
This midfield competition could make the upcoming race even more exciting.
A disappointing day for some drivers
This practice session was not a good one for some drivers. The Aston Martin team of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll failed to produce the expected pace.
Valtteri Bottas also lagged behind, while Sergio Perez failed to even complete a timed lap. This could be a cause for concern for them, especially as the race weekend approaches.
What’s next?
The results of FP2 have made it clear that this year’s first race weekend of the Formula One season is going to be extremely exciting. McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull all look competitive.
All eyes will now be on the qualifying session, where it will be determined which drivers will start first on the grid. If Piastri continues his form, he could even make history at his home Grand Prix.
This weekend is already shaping up to be a memorable one for fans in Melbourne, and the real excitement is yet to come.
Result Free practice 2 – Australian
| Position | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:19.729 |
| 2 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:19.943 |
| 3 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:20.049 |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:20.050 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:20.291 |
| 6 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:20.366 |
| 7 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:20.794 |
| 8 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | 1:20.922 |
| 9 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull | 1:20.941 |
| 10 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | 1:21.179 |
| 11 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1:21.326 |
| 12 | Nico Hulkenberg | Audi | 1:21.351 |
| 13 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:21.358 |
| 14 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | 1:21.668 |
| 15 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 1:21.847 |
| 16 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:22.167 |
| 17 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1:22.253 |
| 18 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 1:22.619 |
| 19 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac | 1:23.660 |
| 20 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:24.662 |
| 21 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:25.816 |
| 22 | Sergio Pérez | Cadillac | No Time Set |
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