The final free practice session for the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix saw Ferrari make a notable step forward in terms of car setup and overall balance. This was a necessary improvement to prepare as thoroughly as possible for the very first qualifying session of the 2026 season, where every tenth of a second counts. However, Mercedes once again looked frighteningly strong, with George Russell putting almost seven tenths on his teammate Kimi Antonelli, highlighting the performance gap that Ferrari would need to overcome. At the conclusion of qualifying, Charles Leclerc managed to secure a respectable fourth-place starting position, while the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was only able to take the seventh spot on the grid. The main source of disappointment was not so much their positions relative to the other teams but the significant distance that still separated Ferrari from the Mercedes cars, which could prove decisive in the race.
In Q1, Ferrari opted to run on Medium tyres for both drivers, a strategic choice designed to provide sufficient grip while allowing the drivers to preserve their tyres for later sessions. Once again, it was Lewis Hamilton who was the first to leave the garage and head out onto the Melbourne Grand Prix circuit. He ran on the yellow-banded Pirelli Medium tyres, following all the detailed instructions and guidance provided by his race engineer. As had been anticipated during the previous day’s sessions, the lower air and track temperatures made the activation and warm-up of the tyres more challenging than usual, which required careful management. It was a difficult start for Andrea Kimi Antonelli due to his earlier crash during free practice which prevented him from taking part in the qualifying session, a significant setback for the young Italian driver and for Mercedes’ plans. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc also set out onto the track in his Ferrari SF-26, also running on a set of Medium tyres, preparing to replicate Lewis Hamilton’s initial approach.
The strategy for both Ferrari drivers was to complete a series of laps aimed at building a rhythm and collecting enough consistent data until they could set a time sufficient to safely progress through the cut to Q2. These laps were carefully alternated with brief periods of tyre recharge and cooling. At this stage, engine revolutions were kept deliberately low, and while there was some minor clipping observed along the straight connecting Turn 7 to Turn 11, it was not particularly excessive and was manageable. Shortly afterward, the first dramatic twist of the session occurred: Max Verstappen lost control of his Red Bull RB22 at Turn 1, resulting in a high-speed crash into the barriers that immediately triggered a red flag. This incident inadvertently allowed Andrea Kimi Antonelli to finally return to the track and attempt to set a time despite his earlier setback.
Approximately ten minutes later, the Italian Ferrari cars returned to the track, continuing to run on their previously used Medium tyres from the first runs, maintaining the same measured strategy. Lewis Hamilton was able to set a competitive lap time relatively early, while Charles Leclerc, after a minor error at Turn 1, was unable to match his teammate’s lap pace immediately. Nevertheless, his lap time was more than sufficient to ensure safe passage into Q2, allowing both Ferrari drivers to continue in the session. At this point, the session intensity increased significantly as teams began to push harder to establish a clearer picture of the relative performance levels across the grid, and to see who had the potential to challenge the top teams for pole position.
In Q2, Ferrari decided to move up to the softer compound tyres, specifically the Pirelli Soft tyres, fitting brand-new sets for both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. These new tyres allowed the drivers to extract higher performance due to the additional grip and better traction. Observing the onboard video feeds, it was immediately noticeable that engine revolutions reached higher levels, and the drivers needed to carefully manage the balance of the car while warming up the front axle to maximize grip. The handling on the Medium tyres had been relatively strong and consistent, but the expectation was that the additional grip from the Soft tyres would further enhance their overall lap times.
Charles Leclerc began his flying lap, but at Turn 4 he encountered a frustrating oversteer, which cost him precious tenths of a second and disrupted the rhythm of his lap. The remainder of his lap was not optimal either, which left him slightly off the pace initially. At the same time, Lewis Hamilton lifted off the throttle, intending to attempt a better lap in the next run after giving the tyres more time to reach optimal temperature. During this period, the Briton was pushing hard but had to return to the pits due to a minor issue with engine power delivery, which triggered a radio alert from his engineers. While his teammate Charles Leclerc completed his lap, setting a slightly higher-than-desired time, the engineers advised Hamilton to make small adjustments to the front wing, applying a “plus 2 clicks” modification to improve balance. Once the issue was resolved, Lewis Hamilton returned to the track and improved his lap time, focusing specifically on improving corner exits, particularly at Turn 11, and optimizing his speed at the apex of Turn 14.
After a short break, Charles Leclerc also returned to the circuit to try to improve his performance. He successfully did so, setting a lap that temporarily placed him in second position, showing the strong pace of the Ferrari SF-26. Lewis Hamilton’s lap was sufficient to progress to Q3, although he expressed some minor complaints about excessive vibration in his side mirrors, which he felt could affect his concentration and precision. Despite these small issues, both Ferrari drivers successfully advanced to the final qualifying session, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown against Mercedes and the other top teams.
In Q3, Mercedes once again appeared to have a clear performance advantage, with Ferrari and McLaren battling closely to establish themselves as the leading challengers. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton ran on new Soft tyres for maximum performance. The Ferrari engineers and drivers focused heavily on managing front tyre temperatures, as achieving the correct thermal window was essential to avoid imbalance between the front and rear axles, which could significantly reduce grip and overall lap performance.
Lewis Hamilton ran slightly wide at Turn 1 during his initial run when the session was interrupted by a red flag caused by Lando Norris striking a piece of debris on track. McLaren mechanics immediately checked Norris’ car for potential damage, but it was later confirmed that no serious issues had occurred. The debris in question originated from Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes, specifically a forgotten cooling fan that had come loose.
After the session resumed, Ferrari continued on the previously used Soft tyres, carefully managing front tyre temperatures, preparing for their one-shot lap to maximize performance. Charles Leclerc ran slightly wide at Turn 1 but recovered well through the first sector, while Lewis Hamilton drove in a slightly more nervous but still controlled manner. In the third sector, Charles Leclerc demonstrated very effective handling, whereas Lewis Hamilton’s laps were cleaner and more precise. In the end, Charles Leclerc set the fastest lap of the two Ferrari drivers but narrowly missed the third position by only 34 thousandths of a second. Lewis Hamilton, a tenth and a half slower than his teammate, had to settle for seventh place on the grid.
The overall result highlighted the persistent gap between Ferrari and Mercedes, with the Brackley cars holding an eight-tenths advantage in qualifying, a margin that raises concerns about the potential race pace over the full 300-kilometer distance. The Mercedes advantage, particularly in terms of power unit performance and suspension efficiency, could make it difficult for Ferrari to challenge for the win, even if race strategy and tyre management are optimized. At least Charles Leclerc managed to finish ahead of the two McLarens, while Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull was positioned just ahead, indicating a strong performance in his debut qualifying. The session also left fans wondering how much faster the results might have been if Max Verstappen had completed his laps without incident, given his usual ability to push the Red Bull RB22 to the maximum.
Overall, the qualifying session in Melbourne confirmed that Ferrari is competitive and capable of securing positions in the top half of the grid, but Mercedes still appear to be on another level, with George Russell demonstrating an impressive performance that may be difficult to match in the race. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will need to work closely with the engineers to optimize race strategy, manage tyre wear, and try to minimize the performance deficit to the Mercedes cars. The session also provided valuable insights into tyre behaviour, car setup, and driver confidence, all of which will be essential as the championship unfolds over the coming rounds of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
With the qualifying completed, the spotlight now turns to race day, where Ferrari will have the opportunity to fight back and show whether they can close the gap to Mercedes over a longer distance, especially considering that Melbourne’s track is demanding in terms of tyre management, braking stability, and power unit efficiency. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton both have the potential to score strong points and perhaps challenge for a podium if strategy and consistency align perfectly, but the eight-tenths deficit from qualifying remains a clear challenge that must be addressed by the team before the lights go out.
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