2026 Formula 1 Australian GP
F1 Australian GP live commentary and updates - qualifying
Follow along for the action in qualifying for Formula 1's Australian Grand Prix
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Australian GP Q1 is open for business!
Hulkenberg is on-track first, followed by Albon, the two Haas cars, and Colapinto.
Here we go!
Lots of boxes of bits around Antonelli's car - all hands to the pump in getting the car fixed.
Toto Wolff oversees the repairs - perhaps he ought to get in the mix with a socket wrench?
Aston Martin's troubles
Of course, Aston Martin has endured a fraught run so far in Australia - but Fernando Alonso's lap in FP3 offered a crumb of comfort that the car isn't absolutely miles off, 3.7s off Russell's pace and ahead of the Cadillacs.
The problem is reliability. Stroll couldn't take part in FP3, and so he'll be aiming to get up to speed if he's able to join in the fun. And even so, the team has suggested that the drivers might not be able to make it to the finish given the car's vibrations are so difficult to contend with.
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Photo by: Lars Baron / Getty Images
10 minutes to Q1
So, here we go - Q1 is coming up soon. We'd expect Aston Martin and Cadillac to take up four of the six spaces in the drop zone - but who's going to join them?
Williams and Alpine seem to be most at risk, but there could still be a surprise exit from the first stage of qualifying.
Franco Colapinto, Alpine, George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
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Mercedes aiming to get Antonelli on-track
Quiet optimism Kimi can make it out for Q1 - a lot of damage, but not quite a full rebuild. FP3 delay is not helping.
[His crash] looks like a combination of bottoming out over a big bump plus the enormous torque of these cars.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photo by: Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images
Can Antonelli make it out on-track?
After his mammoth shunt towards the end of FP3, Antonelli looked in doubt for qualifying - but the Mercedes team is attempting to stitch the remains of his W17 together.
The engine and gearbox are apparently fine, so it's just the small matter of putting everything together...
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes crash
Photo by: Paul Crock / AFP via Getty Images
FIA U-turns on planned Turn 8 active aero change
FP3 recap
Mercedes' George Russell is heading into Formula 1's first qualifying session of the year with the fastest time as he topped a derailed FP3 session at the Australian Grand Prix - as Kimi Antonelli crashed at Turn 2.
Russell and Mercedes finally showed their hand with a brutal last-minute flyer to head Ferrari duo Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
F1 qualifying in Australia: coming soon!
Welcome back! Qualifying for the Australian GP is due to get under way in about 40 minutes' time, and it should be a real thriller!
Grab yourself a coffee if you've woken up early, and come with us on a journey through time and space...
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
