Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Lando Norris admitted he is playing catch-up after technical problems with McLaren Formula 1 Team limited his running during the opening day of practice for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit.
The reigning Formula 1 champion completed only seven laps in the first free practice session after the team identified a transmission control issue on the MCL40. Norris had already reported difficulties with the car earlier in the session before the team halted his running with around 20 minutes remaining.
Following repairs before FP2, Norris returned to the track and completed 29 laps. However, his fastest lap remained roughly one second slower than team-mate Oscar Piastri, who topped the session with a 1:19.729.
Between the two McLaren drivers on the timesheets were several leading contenders, including George Russell driving for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, the Scuderia Ferrari pairing of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, as well as Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen.
“A tricky first day, but it’s good to be back in the car for the start of a new season,” Norris said.
“We didn’t get as much running done as we wanted this morning because of some reliability issues, so we’re a little behind in terms of running and learning.”
“With these new regulations, time in the car is extremely important, so we have some work to do this evening to recover.”
Norris added that the data collected during the second half of FP2 will be crucial for the team ahead of the next sessions.
“We’ve got some good data to analyse from the second half of FP2, and there is plenty we can learn from what our competitors have been doing.”
“We’ll work hard tonight and try to close that gap before getting back in the car for FP3 tomorrow.”
Despite the disrupted running for Norris, McLaren’s chief technical officer Rob Marshall described the overall day as productive for the team.
Marshall confirmed that the team identified and resolved the transmission control issue on Norris’s car before FP2, allowing both drivers to complete a broader programme that included qualifying simulations and longer runs.
McLaren will now analyse the gathered data overnight to refine the car’s setup, including aerodynamics, tyre usage, and power unit management. With limited practice time before qualifying, precise preparation will be essential as the team aims to remain competitive at the opening round of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
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