The second free practice session of the 2026 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix presented a noticeably different picture compared to FP1, with Ferrari finding it more difficult to match the pace of its main competitors. At the end of the session, Lewis Hamilton placed the Scuderia in fourth position, finishing +0.321 behind the fastest time set by Oscar Piastri, while Charles Leclerc ended the session in fifth place with a gap of +0.562.
However, beyond the final classification, the most interesting aspect of FP2 was the work carried out on track by the Maranello team and the overall impressions left by the Ferrari SF-26 during the evening session at the Albert Park circuit.
The opening free practice session of the season had initially shown a very competitive SF-26. In addition to the encouraging reliability that continues to characterize Ferrari’s new car, the machine built in Maranello appeared to offer solid drivability to both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, allowing the two drivers to finish the session at the top of the timesheets.
Nevertheless, it is still far too early to draw definitive conclusions. During the first practice session, none of the teams revealed their true potential, which will almost certainly emerge more clearly during qualifying. For this reason, FP2 plays an important role, as teams typically focus on race pace simulations and longer runs, offering valuable hints about how the cars might perform during Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Ferrari struggles more during the Australian GP FP2 session
Ferrari’s work programme in FP2 began with the use of the hard compound tyres, a compound that had not been used during the opening practice session. Running on the white-marked tyres, the Ferrari SF-26 appeared to show a slight tendency toward oversteer.
This characteristic was particularly noticeable in the first and third sectors of the Albert Park layout, especially at the entry of the penultimate corner where the rear of the car seemed less stable under braking and initial turn-in.
At the same time, the Maranello team continued to focus heavily on energy management, which remains one of the key areas that engineers are still working to optimise. Fine-tuning the deployment and recovery of electrical energy is a crucial aspect of extracting maximum performance from modern Formula 1 power units.
Despite these challenges, Lewis Hamilton managed to set the fastest lap on the hard compound after completing 13 laps on that tyre. Charles Leclerc, however, encountered slightly more difficulties and returned to the pits earlier than his Ferrari teammate during this phase of the session.
The programme later continued with the soft compound tyres, but even on the red-marked rubber the SF-26 still displayed a small tendency toward oversteer. Once again, Hamilton appeared slightly more comfortable behind the wheel compared to Leclerc, although the final lap times always depend on several variables such as tyre preparation, energy deployment, and fuel loads.
Overall, the Ferrari SF-26 seemed to encounter more difficulties compared to the earlier FP1 session. However, it is important to underline that the exact operating parameters used by Ferrari remain unknown. Factors such as energy deployment modes, power unit settings, and fuel levels can significantly influence the performance seen during practice sessions.
At this stage of the season, teams are still in the early phase of understanding their new cars and learning how to manage the complex systems that define modern Formula 1 machinery.
Mercedes-powered teams appear to take a step forward
One of the most interesting aspects of FP2 was the apparent progress shown by Mercedes-powered cars, including the factory Mercedes team itself. Oscar Piastri, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and George Russell finished the session at the top of the classification, suggesting that the Brackley-based team and its engine partners may have made a noticeable step forward during the second practice session.
Even so, these results should still be interpreted with caution. Practice sessions rarely provide a completely accurate picture of the competitive order, and teams often run very different programmes. Only qualifying will reveal the real performance potential of each car on a single lap.
Until that moment arrives, the competitive landscape could still change significantly. What can be said with confidence is that Ferrari’s work during this first day in Melbourne has been largely positive, particularly from a reliability standpoint, with no technical issues reported and generally encouraging feedback from the drivers.
Race pace simulation
Regarding race pace simulations, Mercedes once again appeared to perform strongly during the longer runs carried out in FP2. However, as always, the exact fuel loads and engine modes used by each team remain unknown, which makes direct comparisons difficult.
Ferrari began its race simulation several laps after the Silver Arrows, and the run proved to be more complicated for the Scuderia. Traffic on track and the presence of yellow flags disrupted the programme, preventing both drivers from completing a consistent sequence of laps.
Only a handful of laps were ultimately recorded during Ferrari’s race simulation phase. During this run, Charles Leclerc also made a couple of significant mistakes, running wide and briefly ending up on the gravel.
As a result, Ferrari’s true race pace during FP2 is difficult to evaluate accurately, since neither of the two drivers managed to complete a long and uninterrupted sequence of laps that could provide a reliable benchmark.
Attention now turns to the final practice and qualifying
As repeatedly emphasized throughout the session, the overall competitive situation is still far from being definitive. Formula 1 teams often change setups and strategies between practice sessions, meaning that the performance hierarchy can still evolve significantly.
The next key moment of the Australian Grand Prix weekend will take place during the night between Friday and Saturday, when the third and final free practice session will be followed by the all-important qualifying session that will determine the starting grid for the race at Albert Park.
