Australian Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton 12th in first practice as Lando Norris fastest

Russell lost control of his Williams after dropping a wheel on to the grass late in the session but managed to avoid any damage.

Behind the Briton, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was eighth, split from his team-mate Lance Stroll by French rookie Isack Hadjar in the Racing Bull.

Bearman’s crash brought out a red flag, stopping the session for 10 minutes while his damaged car was cleared from the track.

It was the second stoppage of the session after officials brought out the red flag to clear gravel from the circuit on the exit of Turn Six, dragged there by Australian rookie Jack Doohan in the Alpine.

Shortly after running resumed, Piastri also ran slightly wide at the corner, one of the most difficult on the track, and brought fresh gravel on to the circuit but the session continued.

The wall and kerb at the corner have been reworked for this year’s race to try to avoid the sort of accidents that afflicted both Russell and Albon last year, when both crashed heavily and bounced back on to the track, coming to rest in the middle of the circuit.

But the FIA may have to look at the corner again to stop repeated stoppages for gravel on the track this weekend.

Off track, there was a significant development after it emerged that all 10 teams have now signed their commercial agreements with F1, committing them to the sport until 2030.

Before their current deals run out at the end of this season, they still have to negotiate their contracts with governing body the FIA, which may take some time.