At first glance, the two Friday practice sessions ahead of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix suggested that a close race between all four top teams could be on the cards in Melbourne. Ferrari set a dominant fastest time in the first free practice session, before Oscar Piastri in the McLaren clocked the quickest lap in the afternoon.
However, the real winner of Friday was neither Ferrari nor McLaren, but Mercedes. In the crucial long runs at the end of the second free practice session, with a lot of fuel in the car, the Silver Arrows demonstrated just how strong the W17 really appears to be.
