Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc emerged as the pacesetter in the second practice session for the Australian Grand Prix, setting the fastest lap time of 1 minute 17.277 seconds. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull trailed Leclerc by 0.381 seconds, while Carlos Sainz of Ferrari secured third place.
Sainz’s performance was particularly impressive considering he underwent appendicitis-related surgery just two weeks ago. His return to the track and strong showing dispelled any concerns about his physical condition.
Verstappen, who won the Australian Grand Prix last year, faced a setback in the first practice session when he damaged the floor of his car after running over a kerb. The Red Bull team worked diligently to resolve the issue, but Verstappen missed the first 22 minutes of the second session.
Despite the delay, Verstappen emerged as a formidable challenger, narrowly missing out on the top spot. He is aiming to extend his record-breaking streak of 10 consecutive victories, while Red Bull seeks its third straight 1-2 finish.
The Aston Martin duo of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso finished fourth and fifth, respectively, ahead of George Russell of Mercedes. Russell’s teammate, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, struggled to find pace and finished 18th.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, Sergio Perez of Red Bull, and Lando Norris rounded out the top 10. The top 10 drivers were separated by less than one second, indicating the intense competition in Melbourne.
The first practice session was marred by an incident involving Williams’ Alex Albon, who crashed into the wall at turn 8. The impact caused significant damage to his car and forced him to miss the second practice session.
The Australian Grand Prix circuit has a reputation for being challenging, and the practice sessions served as a reminder of the dangers it poses. Several other drivers experienced mishaps, highlighting the need for caution and precision.
