F1 Today: Newey calls out Honda, Domenicali hits back at Verstappen’s criticism

Charles Leclerc was the quickest in FP1, while Oscar Piastri topped the second session this Friday in Melbourne.

Multiple teams encountered issues today, including McLaren and Red Bull Racing. Lando Norris had gearbox issues in FP1, while Max Verstappen's RB22 stopped as he was exiting the pit lane during FP2. Later, the Dutchman also made a rare mistake going wide in Turn 10, which damaged his floor.

Following the opening practice sessions at Albert Park, Adrian Newey addressed Aston Martin’s struggles with its new Honda partnership.

The 67-year-old team principal, who has seen his squad hampered by the Japanese engine manufacturer’s issues, pointed to Honda’s exit from F1 at the end of 2021 and its sudden return as a key factor in their current challenges.

Newey highlighted how the bulk of the Japanese manufacturer’s experienced staff had departed following its decision to exit. Aston Martin did not now until last November that the team hired personnel with no experience in F1.

Today, the team once again completed the fewest laps of the grid through the first and second practice sessions at the Australian Grand Prix.

Formula 1 President Stefano Domenicali has once again defended the 2026 regulations following criticism from Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the Italian motorsport chief described the drivers’ remarks as misplaced, though he acknowledged the importance of listening to their feedback.

Domenicali stressed that the new rules are designed to ensure the best driver still has the chance to prevail, while also highlighting the reasoning behind the sweeping changes introduced for 2026.