Norris Dominates FP1 in Melbourne as Hamilton Faces Challenges on Ferrari Debut

McLaren's Lando Norris set the pace in the first free practice session for the Australian Grand Prix, clocking a fastest lap of 1:17.252 on soft tyres. This impressive performance put him 0.149 seconds ahead of Williams' Carlos Sainz, who also showed strong form on a beautiful afternoon at Albert Park.

Lewis Hamilton, making his debut with Ferrari, faced a challenging start, finishing 12th. The seven-time world champion expressed difficulty in turning his car over the team radio, highlighting a less-than-ideal beginning with his new team. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, managed a better performance, securing the third fastest time, just two-tenths of a second behind Norris.

Norris's teammate at McLaren, Oscar Piastri, was fourth fastest, narrowly ahead of Red Bull's reigning champion, Max Verstappen. Williams made a significant statement with Sainz and Alex Albon finishing sixth, suggesting they could be the 'best of the rest' this season.

Mercedes' George Russell experienced understeer issues and a spin in the final minute of the session, finishing seventh. Rookie teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli was 14th. Meanwhile, Haas's Oliver Bearman had a heavy shunt, damaging his car after a slide through the gravel at turn six.

The session was interrupted twice by red flags, first due to debris on the track and another for Bearman's accident. Alpine's Jack Doohan and Red Bull's Liam Lawson also faced challenges, with both needing repairs after going off track. Lawson, Verstappen's new teammate, had a rough start but managed to rejoin the session, finishing 16th.

Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar, one of the six drivers making their F1 season debut, performed notably, clocking the ninth-fastest lap. The Australian Grand Prix continues to be a pivotal event in the Formula 1 calendar, setting the tone for the season ahead.