NewsBeat
F1 2026 Australia GP live: Qualifying start time and schedule with Oscar Piastri fastest in FP2
What time is qualifying on Saturday?
- Free practice 3: 1:30am
- Qualifying: 5am
Kieran Jackson6 March 2026 06:10
FP2 RESULTS – TOP-10
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
Kieran Jackson6 March 2026 06:20
Oscar Piastri stays on top
The Australian fans will enjoy that!
Oscar Piastri keeps P1 with a 1:19:729, two-tenths ahead of Kimi Antonelli and a further tenth clear of George Russell in third.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc complete the top-five.
6-10: Verstappen, Norris, Lindblad, Hadjar, Ocon
Kieran Jackson6 March 2026 06:04
Oscar Piastri fastest
Will the home hero keep P1?
He’s top with five minutes to go with a 1:19:729 – two-tenths clear of Kimi Antonelli.
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc goes across the grass at turn 1. The drivers are finding it tough to find their range in these new cars…
Kieran Jackson6 March 2026 05:56
Max Verstappen hits the gravel
The Dutchman loses control at turn 10 and goes across the gravel!
That’ll be a damaged Red Bull floor…
Kieran Jackson6 March 2026 05:53
Adrian Newey doubles down on Aston Martin’s F1 mess: ‘I feel powerless’
Speaking in the FIA press conference on Friday, Newey doubled down on the issues Aston faces and detailed the toll the saga is taking on the team.
Kieran Jackson6 March 2026 05:50
Mercedes find some time
Suddenly, Mercedes have found pace!
At the halfway stage of the session, Kimi Antonelli is top with a 1:19:943 – 0.106 secs ahead of George Russell in second.
Lewis Hamilton is third, 0.176 secs off, with Charles Leclerc fourth and Oscar Piastri fifth.
6-10: Lindblad, Hadjar, Verstappen, Ocon, Bearman
Kieran Jackson6 March 2026 05:36
Fernando Alonso back in the pits
Just two laps for Alonso before heading back to the pits… slowly.
Meanwhile, George Russell enters the gravel at turn 3. Not smooth sailing for Mercedes so far today…
Kieran Jackson6 March 2026 05:29
Fernando Alonso out on track
Alonso leaves the garage in his Aston Martin car – and so far is away all smoothly!
Kieran Jackson6 March 2026 05:15
Max Verstappen has an issue
Like Arvid Lindblad in FP1 (using the same Red Bull-Ford engine), Max Verstappen’s car just sparks out at the end of the pit-lane.
He can’t get it going again – and is wheeled back to the garage by the marshals and then the Red Bull mechanics.
Kieran Jackson6 March 2026 05:10