P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Live coverage of final practice and qualifying at the 2026 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix
The 2026 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix continued on Saturday with the first qualifying session of the year.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri impressed the home crowd by setting the fastest time in the two-hour practice session on Friday, leading Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.
Mercedes faced power unit issues in the first practice, while Ferrari and Red Bull showed competitiveness alongside McLaren.
Aston Martin’s challenges persisted with battery problems, leaving the team uncertain about its participation in Saturday’s events and the race on Sunday.
Saturday featured the final hour of free practice, followed by a qualifying session with a modified format due to the addition of Cadillac as the 11th team on the grid.
The qualifying format saw six drivers eliminated from Q1 and Q2 each, with the top 10 drivers advancing to Q3 to compete for pole position in the season opener.
