Charles Leclerc was quickest in the opening hour of running at the Australian Grand Prix — but Mercedes was strangely quiet.
Charles Leclerc set the pace in the first free practice session of the F1 season in Melbourne, outpacing Lewis Hamilton by nearly half a second. The Ferrari cars showed their speed in FP1 at Albert Park, leading the way for the Australian Grand Prix opening. Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar secured third and fourth positions, surprising Mercedes with their performance. Rookie Arvid Lindblad impressed by claiming the fifth-fastest time in his debut, overcoming initial hurdles. McLaren, along with its supplier Aston Martin, faced difficulties with only seventh and three laps to show, respectively. Notably, Oscar Piastri delighted his home fans by finishing sixth in the session. The full FP1 report of the Australian Grand Prix detailed the eventful start of the season.
