The Mercedes power units dominated FP2 at the Australian Grand Prix, but Toto Wolff urges caution: Ferrari and Red Bull are “very fast.”
It’s already shaping up as Mercedes versus Ferrari in the free practice sessions in Melbourne. According to Toto Wolff, the Ferrari SF-26 is “very fast.” The Maranello team controlled the morning session, while the two Brackley drivers appeared to be managing their pace. However, in the second session, it was the W17s—and Oscar Piastri’s McLaren—that set the pace, with both teams increasing the power output from their respective engines.
The first two practice sessions in Melbourne have left fans on edge. What we’ve seen so far doesn’t yet indicate a fixed grid order. What’s clear is that all teams are still testing the best methods for energy management on the Australian track. Different programs, including race-pace simulations, make it difficult to draw precise predictions at this stage.
The pre-weekend expectations appear largely confirmed, at least in FP2: Mercedes seems to hold a slight advantage over the competition, estimated at two to three tenths. Right behind, Ferrari will need to defend against McLaren and Red Bull, though it does enjoy some additional certainty in terms of reliability.
Wolff: “We’re fast, but so are Ferrari and Red Bull”
During the team principal press conference—dominated by questions to Adrian Newey—Toto Wolff called for calm: “[Our issues] can be overcome. They are not intrinsic hardware problems. Some relate to software and are simply teething issues.”
“That said, I’ve always said that I think Red Bull and Ferrari are very fast. People keep hyping us, which is flattering, but I’m not sure it’s 100% accurate that we’re the outright favorites, and it definitely isn’t what we saw in FP1.” – the Mercedes team boss concluded.
Toto Wolff’s cautious stance after Friday’s practice highlights the immense uncertainty surrounding the 2026 pecking order, where a “software glitch” or a slightly different energy map can completely mask a car’s true potential. While Mercedes currently holds the headline times in Melbourne, the underlying pace of the Ferrari SF-26 suggests that the fight for the first pole position of the season is far from a foregone conclusion.
