MELBOURNE - Lando Norris topped the timesheets for McLaren in the first free practice at the Australian Grand Prix on Friday, as Williams driver Alex Albon disrupted the session with a crash at a familiar turn at Albert Park.

Norris posted a flying lap of one minute, 18.564 seconds on soft tyres midway through the session and the time held up despite a late dash at the end by Red Bull's reigning world champion Max Verstappen, who was 0.018 seconds slower.