McLaren driver Oscar Piastri impressed crowds at Albert Park by posting the fastest lap during Friday’s practice sessions for the 2026 Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Piastri’s Commanding Pace
Piastri secured valuable track time in the first practice despite a gearbox problem that hampered teammate Lando Norris. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari led that session ahead of Lewis Hamilton.
In the second session, Piastri unleashed a blistering lap of 1:19.729, finishing 0.214 seconds clear of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, with George Russell in third place.
Aston Martin’s Battery and Vibration Challenges
Aston Martin arrived in Melbourne with only two usable batteries, as design chief Adrian Newey disclosed. Engineers worked overnight to address a vibration issue plaguing the Honda power unit.
Newey stated, “We are short on batteries. We’ve only got two batteries left — the two that are in the car. If we lose one of those then it’s obviously a big problem.”
Both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll encountered the vibrations during practice. Newey highlighted ongoing struggles, noting, “We’re having continuing problems with the battery. But the much more underlying problem is vibration issues that we just continue to struggle with.”
The team tested a new setup on Stroll’s car. Running low fuel, typical for qualifying simulations, worsens the battery concerns, limiting data collection and car understanding.
Newey admitted, “It’s one where I feel a bit powerless. We’ve clearly got a very significant power unit problem. And our lack of running then means we’re not finding out about the car either. It becomes a self-feeding problem.”
He emphasized collective responsibility: “We can say it’s their [Honda’s] problem, but it’s our problem as well. The car is a combination of chassis and power unit.”
Mercedes Turns to Piastri’s Former Trainer
Piastri’s ex-performance trainer, Australian Kim Keedle, stepped in to assist title contender George Russell after Russell’s trainer faced travel delays from Middle East conflicts.
Keedle, who served as Piastri’s performance manager and physiotherapist during his 2021 F2 title win, received the request Tuesday. He informed Piastri, who approved.
Keedle’s duties include drivers’ physical and mental preparation, nutrition, and optimizing performance outside the car. He joked, “I still get on really well with everyone in McLaren – they’ve come up and abused me and told me I look bad in a Mercedes shirt.”
Mercedes, strong after Bahrain testing, gathered solid data Friday. Team principal Toto Wolff noted, “It was a difficult first run. When you start under new regulations it’s not unusual. There are some interesting challenges on the chassis side, but they’re all surmountable.”
Cadillac’s Milestone Weekend
Cadillac marked a first by running two cars in an official grand prix weekend session. Team principal Graeme Lowdon described it as, “It was hectic. It’s the first time we’ve ever owned two cars running in a Formula 1 session.”
