Oscar Piastri Tops FP2 at 2026 Australian Grand Prix as Mercedes Duo Chase in Melbourne

Melbourne’s hometown star Oscar Piastri delivered a strong performance in Free Practice 2 at the 2026 FIA Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, topping the timesheets at Albert Park Circuit ahead of Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.

The Formula One session proved eventful, featuring pit-lane contact, mechanical issues, and a late Virtual Safety Car as teams gathered crucial data ahead of qualifying in Melbourne.

Piastri Leads the Field in FP2

Driving for McLaren Formula 1 Team, Piastri set the fastest lap of the afternoon with a 1:19.729, finishing more than two tenths clear of Antonelli. Russell secured third place, completing a strong showing for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team.

Piastri’s lap came during a late run on Soft tyres, allowing the Australian to edge ahead of the Mercedes pair and delight home fans at Albert Park.

Behind the top three, Lewis Hamilton finished fourth for Scuderia Ferrari, narrowly ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen ended the session sixth for Red Bull Racing, though his running was disrupted by both mechanical issues and a late off-track moment.

Early Incidents Disrupt the Session

The session began with a minor pit-lane incident when Russell clipped the car of rookie Arvid Lindblad, forcing the Mercedes driver to return to the garage for a nose cone change.

Shortly after, Franco Colapinto experienced a gearbox issue on his Alpine F1 Team car, which appeared to select neutral on track. The slow-moving Alpine left Lewis Hamilton scrambling to take evasive action to avoid a collision.

Further drama followed when Verstappen’s car came to a halt at the end of the pit lane just six minutes into the session. His Red Bull had to be pushed back to the garage, sidelining the Dutchman for much of the first half while mechanics addressed the issue.

Battle for Pace Intensifies

Hamilton initially set the benchmark with a 1:20.903 on Hard tyres, with several drivers showing strong pace on the C3 compound early in the session.

Antonelli briefly moved to the top with a 1:20.801, before Piastri improved further with a 1:20.638, including a purple first sector.

As teams switched to Soft tyres, Russell jumped to P1 with a 1:20.049, but Antonelli soon responded with a 1:19.943 to reclaim the top spot midway through the session.

However, Piastri’s late Soft-tyre run ultimately sealed the fastest lap of the day.

Verstappen Crash and Late VSC

Verstappen’s session ended prematurely after a heavy off at Turn 10. The Dutch driver appeared to suffer sudden oversteer mid-corner, sliding through the gravel trap and damaging the front floor and left-side bargeboard of his car. He returned to the garage and did not rejoin the track.

A late Virtual Safety Car was triggered when Sergio Pérez, now racing for Cadillac Formula 1 Team, was instructed to stop his car at Turn 12 after only two laps due to a sensor problem.

Aston Martin Continues to Struggle

It was another difficult session for Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team, which had already endured a troubled morning.

Both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll managed limited running, but persistent power unit concerns prevented longer stints. Alonso finished 20th, nearly five seconds off Piastri’s benchmark time, while Stroll ended the session 21st.

Top 10 – Australian Grand Prix FP2

1. Oscar Piastri – McLaren – 1:19.729
2. Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes – +0.214
3. George Russell – Mercedes – +0.320
4. Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari – +0.321
5. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – +0.562
6. Max Verstappen – Red Bull – +0.637
7. Lando Norris – McLaren – +1.065
8. Arvid Lindblad – Racing Bulls – +1.193
9. Isack Hadjar – Red Bull – +1.212
10. Esteban Ocon – Haas – +1.450

With Piastri leading the way and Mercedes close behind, the stage is set for an intriguing battle as the Australian Grand Prix weekend continues in Melbourne.