Best Odds Center
best odds centre button
Click here!
Sport TV
watch live tv button
Click here!
to watch
Live FootBall
NPFL
Click here!
Live Scores
play watch Live Score button
Click here!

Oscar Piastri Tops Friday Practice at Australian Grand Prix Amid Aston Martin Struggles

Posted : 06 March 2026

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri impressed on the opening day of the new Formula 1 season, finishing Friday practice at the Australian Grand Prix in first place.

 The 19-year-old Australian edged Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli by just 0.214 seconds in the second session, with George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, and Max Verstappen rounding out the top five.

The weekend has also highlighted Aston Martin’s struggles at the back of the grid following significant regulation changes.

 Team principal Adrian Newey revealed that Fernando Alonso is in a “hard mental place” due to Honda engine issues affecting both performance and reliability.

 Alonso missed the first session entirely because of vibrations in his power unit and was nearly five seconds off the pace in the second session, completing only 17 laps.

Newey also disclosed that the team’s battery supply is dangerously low, compounding the challenges.

At the front, McLaren and Mercedes showed strong pace, while Ferrari spent much of the day topping timing sheets before being overtaken by their rivals. Piastri described the team’s performance positively, saying that operating the car as expected has yielded significant lap-time gains.

Antonelli echoed the sentiment, noting that the competition among top teams remains close and demanding.

Other notable performances included Red Bull rookie Arvid Lindblad, who impressed in his first practice sessions, and former world champion Lando Norris, who overcame early gearbox problems to finish seventh.

Verstappen faced minor setbacks with tyre management and an off-track excursion at Turn 10, while Isack Hadjar and Esteban Ocon completed the top ten, with Oliver Bearman in 11th.

Drivers and teams continue to adapt to the hybrid engine regulations, which split power roughly 50-50 between the internal combustion engine and electrical systems. Management of the new systems will be key as the Australian Grand Prix progresses, leaving the championship picture still uncertain.

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics

close button
Please fill captcha :