The second free practice session of the Australian Grand Prix confirmed a hierarchy that is still very uncertain. Oscar Piastri set the fastest time in a session where four teams are within just six tenths.
The first day of the Australian Grand Prix concluded with the second free practice session on the Albert Park circuit. A particularly anticipated session as it was meant to confirm the initial trends seen a few hours earlier.
This weekend marks the entry into a brand new phase in the history of the sport. Formula 1 is indeed inaugurating a new generation of single-seaters, with deeply revised regulations regarding chassis, aerodynamics, and tires.
In this context, every lap becomes precious for the teams, who are looking to understand the behavior of their cars in real conditions. Between performance programs, long runs, and the study of energy management, engineers have a colossal amount of data to analyze.
The first session had already provided some insights, notably with an impressive Ferrari one-two. But this second session was intended to refine the hierarchy and observe the evolution of performance as the track gained grip.
Oscar Piastri puts McLaren at the top
At the end of this FP2, it was Oscar Piastri who set the best performance of the session. The McLaren driver completed a particularly solid lap, confirming his team’s good form at the start of the season.
The Australian driver finished ahead of the two Mercedes F1 cars, which also showed a very competitive pace on a flying lap. This presence of the Silver Arrows at the front confirms that the German team seems well-equipped to join the fight from the championship opener.
The session especially highlighted an extremely tight hierarchy. Indeed, the four fastest teams are neck and neck: barely six tenths of a second separate the leader from the fourth.
A minimal gap that suggests an intense battle during qualifying, as the slightest improvement could shake up the established order.
Ferrari and Red Bull remain in the fight
After dominating the first session, Ferrari confirmed its potential even if the Italian team did not manage to keep the top spot during this second session.
The red cars nevertheless remain very close to the top of the timesheets, proof that their performance observed earlier in the day was not just a flash in the pan.
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For its part, Red Bull Racing also remains in the lead group. The Austrian team continues to fine-tune the settings of its new car and seems to have a solid pace, both on a flying lap and on race simulations.
The situation remains extremely open, however. With such small gaps, setup choices and tire management could play a decisive role for the rest of the weekend.
Surprises and an already very lively pack
This first day of testing also identified some unexpected performances. Young Arvid Lindblad, driving for Racing Bulls, continues to impress in his Formula 1 debut by regularly appearing at the top of the standings.
Among the teams making progress, Audi also caught attention with a solid pace during several runs. The new German structure seems capable of playing the spoiler in the pack.
Finally, Cadillac, a newcomer to the grid, also showed some encouraging signs, even if the development work obviously remains immense to compete with the most experienced teams.
A hierarchy still far from being set in stone
After these first two free practice sessions, one thing is clear: the 2026 F1 season could be one of the most open in recent years.
The new technical rules have visibly narrowed the gaps, and no team seems able to outrageously dominate the pack at this stage.
Engineers will now spend the night analyzing the collected data to optimize settings before the third free practice session and especially qualifying.
If the trend observed during this first day is confirmed, fans could witness a particularly tight battle for pole position on the Melbourne track.
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FP2 Classification of the 2026 F1 Australian GP:
