“Piastri’s strong start has raised hopes for a memorable result at the Australian Grand Prix“
Formula One driver Oscar Piastri set the fastest time on the opening day of the 2026 season during practice for the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit. The McLaren driver impressed home fans by topping the timesheets in the second practice session.
Piastri recorded a best lap of 1 minute 19.729 seconds, finishing ahead of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team drivers. Rookie Kimi Antonelli placed second, while George Russell finished third. Lewis Hamilton, now racing for Scuderia Ferrari, ended the session in fourth place.
The day did not begin smoothly for Piastri, as he faced technical issues during the first practice session. However, he recovered strongly in the second session and delivered the fastest lap of the day, exciting the large crowd at the circuit.
The early practice sessions also showed strong competition among teams, with McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull Racing all displaying promising pace.
Piastri’s performance has raised expectations ahead of the race weekend, especially as he hopes to deliver a strong result in front of his home fans in Melbourne.