Oscar Piastri in his McLaren topped the time sheets on the first day of practice for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, 0.214 seconds ahead of Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli for Mercedes.
It was a dream start for the Melburnian but far too early to celebrate. With heavily revised rules and regulations, and cars that are all-new and rely on battery power more than ever before, the difference between putting in a fast lap and being fast for the whole race could be extreme.
