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After a long pre-season F1’s finally had its first proper day of 2026 at the Australian GP – which has given some big pointers for the season opener
After a long pre-season, Formula 1 finally had its first proper day of 2026 at the Australian Grand Prix, providing crucial insights for the season opener.
Ferrari and McLaren led the two sessions, leaving pre-season favorite Mercedes trailing. This unexpected twist hints at an exciting season ahead.
Despite Friday’s results, Mercedes remains the team to beat, demonstrated by George Russell’s impressive performance during long runs.
Mercedes’ superior pace was evident in FP2, with Russell consistently outperforming his rivals on track.
While Mercedes faced some power unit issues in FP1, they are still expected to dominate on race day. Qualifying, however, promises to be a chaotic affair.
With various factors at play, such as energy management and tyre strategy, teams are bracing for a nerve-wracking build-up to Saturday’s qualifying session. Red Bull’s chief engineer summed it up well: “It’s going to be a bit chaotic, isn’t it?”
