MELBOURNE, Australia – Mercedes appears to be shedding its early-season caution, displaying a pace that has caught the attention of rivals during practice for the Australian Grand Prix. While Oscar Piastri of McLaren topped the FP2 timesheets, it was the sustained speed of the Silver Arrows, particularly during long runs, that sparked discussion in the paddock. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc acknowledged the Mercedes team isn’t holding back as it was in previous races.
Piastri set a fastest lap of 1:19.729 in FP2, edging out Mercedes drivers Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. Russell, however, indicated that Friday’s sessions weren’t without their challenges. “The first Friday of the season wasn’t the most straightforward,” Russell said. “FP1 was a tough session where we struggled to optimize energy recovery and battery usage. This required a lot of our attention, and therefore we weren’t able to dedicate ourselves to the setup work until much later. When we did, the car had significant understeer, and we didn’t have time to complete a long run.”
The team made significant progress between sessions. “Fortunately, we made a step forward in FP2 and had a much-improved session,” Russell continued. “The car felt more balanced, and we completed a quality number of laps in both qualifying simulation and race pace. This puts us in a good position for the rest of the weekend. The frontrunners glance remarkably competitive, and we’ll need to accept another step overnight if we want to fight for pole position.”
Leclerc echoed Russell’s assessment of Mercedes’ improved performance, particularly in race trim. “On the single lap, I think they still have something to extract, but in the long run, they were impressive – further ahead than I expected,” Leclerc stated. The Ferrari driver’s comments suggest Mercedes is no longer “sandbagging” – deliberately underperforming in practice to mask their true potential – a tactic some teams employ to gain a strategic advantage.
The Albert Park Circuit saw a busy FP2 session with several minor incidents. George Russell clipped the car of Arvid Lindblad in the pit lane, necessitating a front wing change. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto experienced a mechanical issue that left him stranded on the racing line, forcing Lewis Hamilton to take evasive action. Max Verstappen also encountered a problem that sidelined his Red Bull for a portion of the session.
Early in the session, Lewis Hamilton set the pace on Hard tires with a lap of 1:20.903. The C3 compound proved effective, with Hamilton, Russell, Piastri, Antonelli, and Leclerc all posting competitive times. Antonelli briefly took the lead with a 1:20.801, but Piastri quickly responded with a 1:20.638, setting a purple first sector. Russell then jumped to P1 with a 1:20.049 on Soft tires, with Antonelli close behind.
The Australian Grand Prix marks the first race with a completely new car for many teams, adding an extra layer of complexity to the weekend. Teams are still gathering data and refining their setups, making it difficult to accurately assess the competitive landscape. However, the long-run pace displayed by Mercedes is a clear indication of their potential.
For fans following the action from around the globe, the Australian Grand Prix is taking place at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit. Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday, March 7th at 3:00 PM local time (05:00 UTC), with the race on Sunday, March 8th at 3:00 PM local time (05:00 UTC). The race is expected to be a strategic battle, with tire management and long-run pace likely to be crucial factors.
The strong showing from Mercedes raises the stakes for the rest of the field. While McLaren’s Piastri leads the timesheets, the consistent pace of Antonelli and Russell suggests the Silver Arrows are genuine contenders for victory. The coming days will reveal whether Mercedes can maintain this momentum and challenge for the top spot on the podium.
What’s next? All eyes will be on qualifying to observe if Mercedes can translate their impressive practice pace into a pole position. The Australian Grand Prix promises to be a thrilling event, with several teams vying for supremacy.
