Piastri leads Mercedes pair in second practice

Oscar Piastri ended the first day of practice for his home race quickest of anyone in his McLaren.

He lapped the Albert Park circuit in 1’19.729 on a set of soft tyres. Team mate Lando Norris, who covered just seven laps in the first practice session earlier in the day, was a second slower in seventh place.

In a significant change from the first practice session, three Mercedes-powered cars filled the top three places. Andrea Kimi Antonelli was second-quickest for the works team, a tenth of a second quicker than his team mate.

George Russell’s start to the session was delayed after he broke his front wing in a pit lane tangle with Arvid Lindblad. The pair made contact as Russell tried to join the fast lane in front of the rookie, who was encouraged to keep his position by his race engineer.

First practice pace-setter Charles Leclerc was fifth-quickest, behind his team mate. Lewis Hamilton had a near-miss with Franco Colapinto when the Alpine driver appeared to suffer a power unit problem and slowed on the pit straight.

Max Verstappen was sixth-fastest after a lurid moment at the exit of the high-speed turn 10. His Red Bull snapped sideways on the exit kerb, sending him into the gravel trap at speed. His new team mate Isack Hadjar was ninth behind Norris and Lindblad. Esteban Ocon beat his Haas team mate Oliver Bearman to the final place in the top 10.

Aston Martin’s tough start to the weekend continued, though at least both cars left the garage this time. Fernando Alonso managed to lap within five seconds of the pace, albeit a second off the next-slowest car. Lance Stroll was summoned back into the pits after just a handful of laps – neither Aston Martin driver has the luxury of a spare battery this weekend.

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Only Sergio Perez failed to set a time after coming to a stop in his Cadillac. Carlos Sainz Jnr’s session also came to an early end after he suffered a technical problem in his Williams.

2026 Australian Grand Prix second practice result

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