PRACTICE DEBRIEF: How is the pecking order looking after a frenetic Friday in Australia?
McLaren were the dominant team in 2025, but with the biggest regulation shake-up in years kicking off 2026, who looks the strongest at the season opener in Melbourne?
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Formula 1 2026 is go, go, go as the 11 teams that will contest this year's World Championship hit the track for Friday practice for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. With so much uncertainty about the true pecking order after pre-season testing in Bahrain, Friday's two one-hour practice sessions at Albert Park shone a little more light on the current state of play...
Piastri topped the times but are McLaren really fastest?
The reigning world champions certainly look like they are right in the thick of it, with our data putting them quickest in both the qualifying and race simulation pace.
Home favourite Oscar Piastri, who grew up just down the road from Melbourne's street circuit, had a slow start to his weekend as some time in the garage limited his running in FP1 after feeling a loss of power early on – but he had a much smoother time of it to top the times in the second session.
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