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set the pace in the opening practice session (FP1) of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the , finishing ahead of his Ferrari teammate and of Red Bull.
Driving for , Leclerc recorded the fastest lap of 1:20.267, edging Hamilton by 0.469 seconds, while Verstappen placed third.
The session at the marked the first on-track outing of the 2026 season, with teams debuting their brand-new cars following a major technical regulation reset.
Early in the session, Verstappen initially topped the timesheets before Leclerc improved the benchmark. Several incidents disrupted the hour, including a Virtual Safety Car when rookie stopped at the pit lane exit.
Local favourite also experienced early trouble, reporting a loss of power in his McLaren, though he later returned to the track.
There were further problems for teams during the session. did not participate due to a suspected power unit issue with his car, while ended his session early due to precautionary gearbox checks on his .
In the closing stages, Leclerc regained the top spot from Verstappen and held it until the chequered flag, finishing the session with the highest lap count of 32 laps.
Teams will now analyse the data before the second practice session later in the day.
