FP2 Full results: Verstappen in trouble, Leclerc and McLaren dom…read more
Charles Leclerc topped the second free practice session for the Australian Grand Prix, finishing in P1 ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Leclerc’s performance was dominant, with the Monegasque driver leading the field by a significant margin. In contrast, Max Verstappen, who has been a key contender throughout the season, struggled in FP2, only managing to secure P7, over six-tenths of a second behind Leclerc.
Surprising results also came from Lewis Hamilton, who finished the session in P5. Despite his usual competitiveness, Hamilton was unable to keep up with some unexpected strong performances, including that of AlphaTauri’s Yukio Tsunoda, who finished fourth overall. Tsunoda’s impressive pace placed him ahead of Hamilton, further highlighting the unpredictability of the session.
The session also confirmed the competitive nature of the Racing Bulls, as Isack Hadjar, a member of the Red Bull Junior Team, secured an impressive P6. Hadjar’s performance showcased the continued strong potential of the Red Bull program, even if their lead driver, Verstappen, wasn’t at the top of the timesheets.
Nico Hulkenberg, representing Sauber, finished in P8, while Lance Stroll of Aston Martin and George Russell of Mercedes rounded out the top 10 in P9 and P10, respectively. These results suggest that there is still plenty of work to be done for some of the teams as they look to refine their setups ahead of qualifying.
Overall, the second free practice session was a reminder of the intense competition at the front of the grid, with McLaren and Ferrari showing strong form, while Verstappen and Red Bull, despite their usual dominance, are facing stiffer challenges than expected. As the teams prepare for qualifying, the session results indicate that the Australian Grand Prix could be a tightly contested event.
