After a long winter break, the regular season track action of Formula One is finally back. To kick off the season of unknowns, Free Practice One in Albert Park, Australia. 

Free Practice One is the first time the world of Formula One is seeing to many new changes such as the new regulations, new drivers, and new teams. 

Most notably Audi, Cadillac, and rookie Arvid Lindblad all made their regular season debut in Australia in this session. All of these parties are hopeful for a good season and are optimistic towards what the year could bring.

Differing slightly from the complete rookies there have been changes among the returning drivers from last season. Max Verstappen is now racing under the number 3 and defending World Champion Lando Norris is racing with the reserved champion’s number 1. 

New for the entire world of Formula one is the 2026 regulations and active aero. Drivers are slowly getting familiar with the new active aero system that replaced DRS. 

What were once DRS boards around the track are replaced by SM boards. SM being the initials for the new “straight mode” also known as “active aero”. 

To welcome Cadillac to the grid is the General Motors CEO, in the paddock, watching track action from the best seats in the house, as well as some familiar faces, such as Zhou Guanyu and his former teammate Valtteri Bottas.

Mattias Binotto is also a familiar face that is rejoining the paddock this year with Audi. The former Ferrari team principal has been the head of the Audi Formula One project and is leading the team alongside Jonathan Wheatley, the new team principal after being with RedBull Racing since 2006.

Most teams took a very active approach to the first practice session of the season, trying to get as much track time out of the hour as they could. 

The trial runs of the new cars in the first regulated practice went fairly as expected; it was a rough start for some, while Ferrari topped the charts at the end of the session, with Charles Leclerc fastest and Lewis Hamilton second fastest.

Drivers are still warming up to the new cars, as seen in all the offline moments. Lock-ups were recurring throughout the session, with Franco Colapinto and Isack Hadjar both locking up in corners and finding their cars in the gravel.

A returning veteran, Sergio Perez, also had a moment he is hoping to forget with a spin in turn 4. Without driving in Formula One last season and the complete curveball from the regulation and mechanical changes Perez has a lot to adjust to in the 2026 season.

Alexander Albon’s practice came to an early end when he lost power and had to retire the car on the side of the track, bringing a brief yellow flag to the practice. Oscar Piastri had a similar issue at the start of practice but was able to get more out of the hour of track time.

McLaren had a dynamic practice, having a tricky start at the top of the hour but eventually getting back on track. After a couple of runs Norris reported that the car felt much better than the starting condition. 

Also at McLaren, Norris called his practice earlier than all the other drivers being seen in hospitality relaxing and enjoying a refreshment. Norris was taking a break in his fire proofs and watching the track action like other spectators all around the track when caught by the broadcasting cameras. Lando Norris provided a good laugh for commentators and spectators when in his element enjoying the paddock perks to the fullest.

As previously mentioned, Ferrari topped the timing charts after the hour of the first free practice of the season. Charles Leclerc’s fastest was a 1:20.267 after 33 laps and Lewis Hamilton was just 0.467 seconds behind him in almost as many.

Former reigning world champion Max Verstappen is still keeping his hat in the ring and performing at top standards in true Max fashion and came in third fastest with a 1:20.789.

RedBull had both drivers in the top 4 fastest at 3rd and 4th leading to only two teams in the top 4 fastest lap times. Both Ferrari and RedBull looking good after the first free practice.