F1 Australian GP: Lando Norris leads all in free practice 1

Sainz returns to the track and takes ninth place

The first round of free practice at the Australian GP provided several thrills. The best time of the session è was that of Norris on McLaren, who stopped the clock on the final time of 1'18"564, just 18 hundredths ahead of reigning World Champion Verstappen. Also doing well was Russell who, in the final rush of the session, took third place overall, 33 thousandths off Norris’ time

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The Ferrari of Leclerc è placed fourth with a gap of 35 thousandths from the best time of the session. Returning to the track was Sainz, who did not go beyond the eighth time (-122 thousandths from Norris) but regained feeling with the single-seater after stopping for the emergency operation for appendicitis that made him miss the last GP. Alonso, 18° at the end of Free Practice 1, was practically not seen.

It should be noted that, during the session, è a red flag was shown for an accident, fortunately without consequence, involving Albon. The Williams driver è went to the wall. During Free Practice 1 there were also many off-track incidents. The main casualty was Alonso who was forced to change the bottom of his Aston Martin for an unexpected exit on the gravel.