Oscar Piastri, driving the McLaren designed by Rob Marshall, posted the fastest time in the second practice session of the 2026 Australian GP at Albert Park. The Melbourne native completed a lap in 1m19.729s, securing the top spot despite the new F1 cars running over three seconds slower than last year’s models. This marks the second time Piastri has led a session at his home event.
Mercedes Follow Closely Behind McLaren on the Timesheet
Piastri edged out a strong field, including Mercedes drivers who clinched second and third positions. Kimi Antonelli narrowly missed out on first place by 0.214 seconds, while George Russell took third, trailing Piastri by 0.320 seconds. The competition remained tight among the front-runners with both Ferrari drivers rounding out the top five. Lewis Hamilton placed fourth, just 0.321 seconds slower than Piastri, with teammate Charles Leclerc finishing fifth, 0.562 seconds adrift after having topped Practice 1.
Verstappen Encountered Setback, Focusing on Race Strategy
Max Verstappen’s session began with difficulties when his Red Bull RB22 became stuck in gear at the pit lane entrance, causing a delayed return and limiting his running time. Despite joining midway through the session and completing a few fast laps, he prioritized race runs over outright speed, finishing sixth and 0.637 seconds behind the leader.
Other Notable Performances and Track Challenges
Lando Norris recovered from missing most of Practice 1 to secure seventh place, just over a second behind his McLaren teammate. The remaining top ten included Arvind Lindblad, Isack Hadjar, and Esteban Ocon. Track conditions at Albert Park are proving demanding, with reduced downforce leading to frequent lock-ups and off-track excursions—drivers such as Russell, Hamilton, and Leclerc faced difficulties, while Verstappen endured a heavy off after oversteer cost him part of his car’s floor.
Preparation Continues Ahead of Qualifying and Race Day
McLaren acknowledges they might be slightly behind the leading teams overall but were encouraged by Piastri’s clean and competitive lap, especially given the unknown fuel strategies at this stage. With qualifying scheduled for the next day, teams will use Practice 3 as a final opportunity to fine-tune their setups and tactics for the Australian GP’s critical sessions.
“The gravel bites in Albert Park ð³#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/md6VbTzKFX” ?Formula 1
https://twitter.com/F1/status/2029800566847623680
