The Australian Grand Prix always brings excitement, but this year’s Practice Three session at the famous Albert Park circuit in Melbourne turned out to be far more dramatic than expected. As the 2026 Formula 1 season begins, fans witnessed a session full of speed, surprises, and a frightening crash.
For young driver Kimi Antonelli, stepping into Formula 1 with Mercedes is already a huge moment. But during Practice Three, the 19-year-old faced a tough reality of the sport. Moments like these show why Formula 1 is so thrilling — the pressure, the emotion, and the constant push for perfection.
Build-Up to Australian GP Practice Three
Before the Australian GP weekend, many teams were hiding their true pace during pre-season testing. Mercedes was believed to be one of those teams. George Russell hinted earlier that the car had strong potential, but very few expected what happened in Practice Three.
The session started normally, with drivers testing their setups on the tight and tricky Melbourne street circuit. As time went on, the competition became more intense.
Lewis Hamilton, now driving for Ferrari after his major move from Mercedes, was pushing hard. His teammate Charles Leclerc also looked quick. However, Mercedes soon became the center of attention.
George Russell looked confident throughout the session, setting consistent lap times. Meanwhile, rookie driver Kimi Antonelli was trying to prove that he deserves a place in Formula 1. The Australian GP circuit is known for its unforgiving barriers, making it a difficult track for newcomers.
George Russell Shows Mercedes’ True Speed
The biggest moment of the session came when George Russell went out on fresh soft tyres.
He delivered a stunning lap time of 1:19.053, immediately jumping to the top of the timing screens. It was not just fast — it was clearly quicker than everyone else.
Russell finished more than 0.6 seconds ahead of the rest of the field, surprising many teams.
After the session, Russell admitted that Mercedes had been holding back during testing.
For the team, this was an important moment. After struggling to match the pace of Red Bull and Ferrari in recent seasons, Mercedes finally showed strong performance again.
Lewis Hamilton finished second for Ferrari, 0.616 seconds behind, while Charles Leclerc secured third place, 0.774 seconds behind Russell.
With this performance, Mercedes suddenly looks like a serious contender for pole position in qualifying.
Kimi Antonelli’s Huge Crash Shocks the Session
Just when things were heating up, the session took a frightening turn.
During the final minutes of Practice Three, Kimi Antonelli was pushing hard on a fast lap. While entering Turn 2, he took too much kerb and lost control of the car.
The Mercedes spun and crashed heavily into the barriers at high speed.
The impact was measured at over 25G, making it one of the biggest crashes of the session. Debris scattered across the track and race officials immediately brought out the red flag, stopping the session.
Thankfully, Antonelli climbed out of the car without injury.
However, the crash caused heavy damage to the Mercedes W17, affecting all four corners of the car. Mechanics now face a difficult task to repair the car before qualifying.
What the Crash Means for Mercedes
Antonelli’s crash has created uncertainty for Mercedes ahead of qualifying.
The team now has only a few hours to repair the car before the start of Q1. If the repairs cannot be completed in time, Antonelli could miss the qualifying session.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff focused on the positive side after the crash.
He confirmed that Antonelli was safe and praised the safety features of modern Formula 1 cars.
Incidents like this highlight how much safety technology has improved in Formula 1. Modern designs such as the halo and stronger chassis structures help protect drivers during high-speed impacts.
Other Highlights from Practice Three
The session had several other interesting moments.
Red Bull’s defending world champion Max Verstappen finished sixth, more than one second behind Russell, which suggests the team may not yet be showing its full pace.
McLaren drivers also appeared competitive. Oscar Piastri finished fourth, while Lando Norris ended the session in eighth.
Rookie Gabriel Bortoleto impressed many by placing ninth for Audi.
Earlier in the session, Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz also caused a brief red flag after experiencing a hydraulic problem with his car.
These small incidents added to the unpredictable nature of the Australian GP practice session.
Formula 1’s Emotional Rollercoaster
Practice Three at the Australian GP showed both the highs and lows of Formula 1.
George Russell’s impressive performance gave Mercedes fans hope for a strong season. At the same time, Kimi Antonelli’s crash reminded everyone how challenging and dangerous the sport can be.
With qualifying approaching, the pressure continues to build.
Will Mercedes maintain their advantage?
Will Antonelli be able to return for qualifying?
These questions make the Australian GP weekend even more exciting.
FP3 Results
| Position | Driver | Team | Time / Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:19.053 |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +0.616s |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.774s |
| 4 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.892s |
| 5 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | +1.012s |
| 6 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +1.144s |
| 7 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +1.271s |
| 8 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +1.390s |
| 9 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | +1.406s |
| 10 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB | +1.512s |
(Times are based on reported results from the session.)
Conclusion
Practice Three at the Australian Grand Prix delivered everything Formula 1 fans love — incredible speed, unexpected drama, and a major crash.
George Russell’s dominant lap showed that Mercedes could be a strong competitor this season. However, Antonelli’s crash has added uncertainty for the team before qualifying.
As the Australian GP weekend continues, fans can expect even more intense action on track.
FAQs
Q: What caused Kimi Antonelli’s crash in Practice Three?
Antonelli lost control of his car after taking too much kerb at Turn 2, which caused the car to spin and hit the barriers.
Q: How fast was George Russell in Practice Three?
Russell set the fastest lap with a time of 1:19.053, finishing more than 0.6 seconds ahead of the field.
Q: Will Kimi Antonelli take part in qualifying?
It depends on whether Mercedes can repair the damaged car before the qualifying session begins.
Q: Why was Mercedes’ pace surprising?
Mercedes appeared to hide their real performance during testing and revealed their true speed during Practice Three.
Q: Who finished in the top three of Practice Three?
George Russell finished first, followed by Lewis Hamilton in second and Charles Leclerc in third.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only. All details about the Australian Grand Prix are based on publicly available reports and may change as official updates are released.
