Daily Times

Lando Norris topped the timesheets for McLaren in the first free practice at the Australian Grand Prix on Friday, as Williams driver Alex Albon disrupted the session with a crash at a familiar turn at Albert Park. Norris posted a flying lap of one minute, 18.564 seconds on soft tyres midway through the session and the time held up despite a late dash at the end by Red Bull’s reigning world champion Max Verstappen, who was 0.018 seconds slower.

The session was halted in the last 20 minutes with a red flag when Albon locked up and took a heavy shunt into the barrier at turn six, wrecking his Williams car before it rolled to a stop at turn eight.

It came a year after Albon crashed at the same turn on race-day, triggering one of three red flags.

With debris strewn along a long section of the track, Albon walked away from his car and apologised on the team radio.

George Russell was third quickest for Mercedes ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc but it was a worrying session for the Silver Arrows, with both Russell and team mate Lewis Hamilton skidding off track.