Leclerc Leads in Second Practice at Australian Grand Prix as Hamilton Struggles…read more
Charles Leclerc secured the fastest time in the second practice session for the Australian Grand Prix, with a lap time of 1:16.439, showcasing Ferrari’s strong pace ahead of McLaren. Leclerc’s impressive performance came as seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, making his Ferrari debut, could only manage fifth, struggling to match his teammate’s speed.
Hamilton’s Ferrari Debut Faces Challenges
Hamilton’s first race weekend with Ferrari has garnered significant attention, given his high-profile move from Mercedes. However, despite the excitement surrounding his switch, Hamilton was unable to deliver the performance many expected. He finished in 12th place in the opening practice session and improved slightly to fifth in the second practice. Hamilton was four-tenths of a second slower than Leclerc, highlighting the challenges he faces in adapting to Ferrari’s car.
Leclerc and Ferrari Eye Pole Position
Despite Hamilton’s struggles, Leclerc’s performance in the second practice session suggests that Ferrari is in the mix for a strong qualifying result. McLaren was widely expected to start the season with the fastest car, but Leclerc’s pace indicates that Ferrari could be a legitimate contender for pole position at Albert Park. Leclerc showed competitive pace both on single-lap runs and longer stints, which bodes well for Ferrari’s chances in qualifying and the race.
McLaren Duo Impress, but Leclerc Tops the Timesheet
McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris had dominated the opening practice session, but they were unable to match Leclerc’s speed in the second session. Piastri and Norris finished second and third respectively, just over a tenth of a second behind Leclerc. While McLaren has been seen as a favorite heading into the weekend, Ferrari’s strong showing in second practice means the Australian Grand Prix weekend is shaping up to be a highly competitive battle for the front positions.
Tsunoda Shines for Racing Bulls
Yuki Tsunoda impressed by finishing fourth in the session, ahead of Hamilton and his Racing Bulls teammate, Isack Hadjar. Hadjar delivered a solid performance, finishing in sixth place, further strengthening the optimism surrounding Racing Bulls. Their impressive form has raised expectations for the team, particularly after Max Verstappen, who is aiming for a fifth consecutive Drivers’ Championship, struggled to find the right setup. Verstappen finished seventh in the session, signaling potential issues with the balance of his car, which many teams are still fine-tuning after limited pre-season testing in Bahrain.
Verstappen and Lawson Struggle
Verstappen’s teammate, Liam Lawson, had a particularly difficult session, finishing in 17th place. His performance was notably below expectations, which highlights the challenges Red Bull faces with their car setup. Lawson’s difficulties further compounded the struggles of the senior Red Bull team, which will need to make significant adjustments to remain competitive throughout the weekend.
Mercedes Faces Early Challenges
Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli encountered difficulties during the second practice session. Russell struggled to find the right balance in his car and finished 10th, after also going off track in the first practice. The team showed decent pace on the medium and hard tire compounds, but when switching to the faster soft tires, they failed to find the anticipated improvement. Antonelli, in his first Australian Grand Prix weekend with Mercedes, finished in 16th, indicating that Mercedes will need to make substantial adjustments to be in contention for top positions.
Rookie Setbacks and Haas’ Issues
One of the more unusual stories of the session was the absence of British rookie Oliver Bearman, who was unable to participate due to Haas running out of time to complete repairs following a crash in the first practice. Bearman’s absence prevented him from gaining valuable track time, which could hinder his ability to make a strong showing in the remainder of the weekend.
What to Expect Next: Final Practice and Qualifying
With the competitive field shaping up, all eyes will be on the final practice session, set to take place at 1:30 am on Saturday, followed by the all-important qualifying session at 5 am. Given the strong performances from Ferrari, McLaren, and Racing Bulls, it looks set to be an exciting battle for pole position at the Australian Grand Prix. Fans can tune into Sky Sports F1 for live coverage of the action, as teams finalize their setups ahead of the race.
