Max starts Formula 1 season with P3 in Australia

Published on 06 March 2026 by Misha van der Kroon

Max Verstappen has started his Formula 1 season on a positive note. In Melbourne, the four-time World Champion set the third-fastest time during the first free practice session. Max was consistently among the fastest drivers throughout the session, and the Oracle Red Bull Racing car, powered by Red Bull Powertrains, ran without any major issues. Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc was the fastest during the opening session at Albert Park.

At 12:30 local time in Melbourne, Australia, the Formula 1 season gets underway. The first free practice session begins, with several drivers waiting at the end of the pit lane at Albert Park to head straight onto the circuit. It takes a moment before the session properly gets going. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) first reports a loss of power, and shortly afterwards Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) stops at the end of the pit lane. Piastri regains power after a few corners, but Lindblad has to be pushed back into the pit lane. The car is safely recovered under a virtual safety car. After around five minutes, the session can truly begin. Haas driver Esteban Ocon sets the first representative lap time under green with a 1:34.589.

Max also heads out immediately. Like most drivers, he starts on the medium tyres. The four-time World Champion quickly shows he is adapting well to the new car and conditions. After the first ten minutes he has already posted a 1:22.9, making him almost nine tenths quicker than the rest of the field. Naturally, the lap times continue to improve from there. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Max trade fastest laps. Oracle Red Bull Racing teammate Isack Hadjar also joins the battle at the top of the timesheets. At the halfway point of the session, Leclerc leads with a 1:21.2, ahead of Max and Hadjar (both 1:21.4). Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) and Piastri complete the top five.

George Russell (Mercedes) is the first driver to head out on soft tyres. On his first flying lap he records a 1:22.1, before improving to a 1:21.3 on his second attempt. Max also switches to softs after completing thirteen laps on the medium compound. The 71-time race winner immediately sets the fastest time. With a 1:20.9 he becomes the first driver to dip below the 1:21 barrier. Hadjar gets close but remains just over a tenth and a half behind. Leclerc once again joins the Red Bulls at the top of the timesheets and is a fraction quicker than both on the soft tyres with a 1:20.8. However, Max manages to go fastest again on his third lap on the softs, clocking a 1:20.789.

Reigning world champion Lando Norris (McLaren) has a more difficult start to his Formula 1 season. The Brit complains about “shocking downshifts” early in the session and returns to the pit box after just seven laps. Both Aston Martin drivers also encounter issues. During media day it had already become clear that the team was struggling with vibrations and might not be able to complete a full race distance. As a result, Lance Stroll (three laps) and Fernando Alonso (no laps) complete little to no running during this session.

In the closing stages of the session another issue occurs. Alexander Albon (Williams) stops on track, reporting that he has lost power steering “and more”. A virtual safety car is once again deployed so that Albon’s car can be safely placed behind the barriers. Not long afterwards another yellow flag appears briefly. Sergio Perez, now driving for Cadillac and a former teammate of Max, spins but is able to continue.

In the final moments several drivers improve their lap times. Leclerc posts a 1:20.2 in the final minute, putting him nearly half a second clear of the rest of the field. Max ends the session in third place.

Results first free practice Australia: