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Melbourne Village Today
By the People, for the People
Ferrari's Leclerc Tops First Practice at Australian Grand Prix
The Monegasque driver set the fastest time in the opening session ahead of teammate Carlos Sainz.
Published on Mar. 6, 2026
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Charles Leclerc of Ferrari set the fastest time in the first practice session for the Australian Grand Prix, leading a 1-2 finish for the Italian team ahead of teammate Carlos Sainz. The Monegasque driver's time of 1:18.978 was over a tenth of a second quicker than Sainz's best effort.
Why it matters
The Australian Grand Prix is the first race of the 2026 Formula 1 season, and Leclerc's strong performance in practice suggests Ferrari may be the team to beat this year after a disappointing 2025 campaign.
The details
Leclerc's time was set on the soft compound tires, while Sainz's second-fastest lap came on the medium tires. Red Bull's Max Verstappen was third quickest, over two-tenths of a second off Leclerc's pace.
- The first practice session took place on Friday, March 6, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia.
The players
Charles Leclerc
A Monegasque racing driver who competes in Formula 1 for the Ferrari team.
Carlos Sainz
A Spanish racing driver who is Leclerc's teammate at the Ferrari Formula 1 team.
Max Verstappen
A Dutch racing driver who competes in Formula 1 for the Red Bull team.
What’s next
The second practice session for the Australian Grand Prix will take place later on Friday, March 6th.
The takeaway
Ferrari appears to have regained its competitive edge after a down year in 2025, with Leclerc setting the pace in the opening practice session and hinting at a potential return to the front of the grid for the iconic Italian team.
