The 2026 Formula 1 season is off to a chaotic start, marked by stalled cars, power losses, vibrations, and drivers unable to push their machines to the limit. As the sport transitions into a new technical era, early signs point to a challenging season ahead for several teams.
Honda and Aston Martin Hamper Fernando Alonso in Australia
Zero laps completed and more social media posts than kilometers driven – that summed up Fernando Alonso’s frustrating start to the season. Honda detected an issue with its power unit, keeping its star driver sidelined during the first free practice session. Though, given the circumstances, it may have saved him from unnecessary discomfort.
Aston Martin’s performance has been a step backward rather than forward. The team’s pre-season struggles have carried over to the Australian Grand Prix, with a serious vibration issue plaguing the AMR26. The situation raises concerns about whether they can even meet the 107% qualifying rule, participate in the race, or avoid repeating the difficult pasts of McLaren-Honda, and HRT. The car designed by Adrian Newey is facing the possibility of setting a negative record in Formula 1, leaving questions about the decision to travel to Australia.
While Fernando Alonso passed the time and Aston Martin mechanics formed a soccer barrier in the garage to mask their issues, Lance Stroll managed only a handful of installation laps with the troublesome AMR26. He ended the session second to last, nearly 30 seconds off the pace, while the 44-year-old Alonso likely spent the time playing cards with his team in Albert Park. The situation is dire, and the worst may be yet to come.
Early Troubles for the 2026 F1 Season
Where to begin? The first practice hour in Melbourne was packed with drama. Sergio Pérez, returning to Formula 1, raced without his right rearview mirror on his Cadillac MAC-26, and too struggled to control the car. Meanwhile, Alex Albon’s heavy Williams FW48 suffered a failure on a straightaway. But the biggest issues were with the defending champions.
McLaren’s struggles continued as Oscar Piastri, the local favorite, extended the curse of the Australian driver by reporting a significant power loss. Lando Norris, sporting the number 1 on his car, sat out half the session due to a gearbox issue with the MCL40. It’s a challenging start to the season for the team led by Zak Brown and Andrea Stella.
Enough about the misfortunes. Surely, something positive happened? Ferrari. Yes, the Maranello-based team topped the timesheets in FP1 with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton appearing to form a front row. The SF-26’s lap time was three seconds slower than the FP1 times from 2025. Following closely behind was the Red Bull duo, while Mercedes appeared to be holding back, potentially signaling they are the main threat in 2026.
And what about Audi? A strong start for their debut in Formula 1 with a completely new engine. Sakura should take note: Gabi Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg finished in the top 10 on the timesheet. Racing Bulls’ rookie Arvid Lindblad also impressed with a fifth-place finish.
As for the Spanish representation, Carlos Sainz recorded the 12th-best time in the session after 30 laps, two seconds off the pace. Franco Colapinto finished 16th, ahead of his teammate Pierre Gasly. More action is scheduled for 6:00 AM Spanish time on the sunny Albert Park circuit. Fernando Alonso will need to find a charger for his phone, given that his Aston Martin is already completely drained.
