Charles Leclerc outpaced Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton to top the timesheets in first practice for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Friday as drivers grappled with sweeping new engine changes.

Leclerc powered his Ferrari round the Albert Park circuit in fine weather with a best lap of one minute, 20.267 seconds at the death to pip the British seven-time world champion by 0.469 secs.

The Red Bull pair of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar were third and fourth, with Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad a stunning fifth in his first FP1.