We expected there to be problems in the first session of practice in Melbourne, but it was a surprise to see a Mercedes as the first car stopping out on track. Lewis Hamilton didn't manage to set a lap time and found his session over after just five minutes. Meanwhile, Sebastian Vettel took a long time to leave the garage but he completed 10 laps and finished in the top ten.

Other incidents included Max Chilton locking up in the pit lane, knocking into some equipment and narrowly missing a mechanic, Toro Rosso consistently struggling with their brakes and running off track, and the Williams pair getting their day off to a really good start.