The first two practice sessions in Melbourne confirmed the stability of the Ferrari SF-26, which, at least over a single lap, seems to be well positioned. Moreover, the form shown by Lewis Hamilton could allow the Scuderia to fight with both cars against the strongest rivals.
Ferrari drivers and team leaders have repeatedly emphasized the importance of “focusing on themselves” without being influenced by what happens outside the garage. Paradoxically, standing united during difficult moments is easier than controlling the excitement that comes, especially from the outside, when the results ignite the hopes of the ‘rosso’ fans. The one-two finish at the end of FP1 dominated the conversation during the two-hour break before the afternoon session.
Reliability concerns for the Mercedes power unit? Setup problems for McLaren and Red Bull? There were plenty of speculations to explain the first session of the 2026 race weekend.
The sixty minutes of the afternoon session brought the hierarchy closer to the expectations Formula 1 had upon arriving in Australia. In FP2, which ended with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in fourth and fifth respectively, Leclerc reported some issues with setup changes (“I tried something quite aggressive that didn’t work”), but overall the picture confirmed what was already seen during testing in Bahrain: a solid Ferrari, just three tenths off the Mercedes benchmark.
“FP1 went well,” explained Charles Leclerc, “but in FP2 Mercedes showed their potential more clearly.” That potential was particularly evident in race pace, with George Russell and Matteo Antonelli setting the rhythm. It is not easy, however, to precisely assess Ferrari’s pace. Lewis Hamilton completed only five flying laps, while Charles Leclerc’s long run was too fragmented to provide reliable data.
“I don’t know how much margin they still have in qualifying,” Charles Leclerc commented, “but in race pace, they seem very strong compared to us, really impressive.” “We have work to do, but as I have always said,” he added, “Melbourne and Shanghai are probably the two most challenging tracks of the season for my driving style.” Indeed, Charles Leclerc finished both sessions behind Lewis Hamilton, and for Lewis, this result—even without points—is an important sign.
Lewis Hamilton’s strong start may be the best news of the day for Ferrari. Three months ago, Lewis was struggling at the back of the field, significantly behind his teammate. It was crucial for him to begin with a positive signal, and that is exactly what happened. Although these are only practice sessions, Lewis Hamilton’s words made it clear how important it was for him to restart with a different pace.
“Really a good day,” admitted Lewis Hamilton. “It was fantastic to get back on track and start taking things seriously. It’s wonderful to be here, and I’m incredibly grateful to be doing what I love and to see so many fans today. On track, it was challenging at times, but we maximized the laps we had and worked as effectively as possible, gathering a lot of useful information. There is still a lot of work to do, but I’m looking forward to getting back in the car tomorrow.”
While waiting to see where the SF-26 ranks in the early hierarchy on the track (which will become clearer in qualifying), Ferrari has already received good news: the team has two competitive cars. After the end of last season, this was not a certainty.
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