Leclerc Leads Second Practice at Australian Grand Prix

In the second practice session for the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc of Ferrari topped the timesheets ahead of Max Verstappen from Red Bull Racing. Leclerc managed to set a blistering pace, nearly 0.4 seconds faster than his rival, with his teammate Carlos Sainz securing the third-fastest time.

Oscar Piastri emerged as the best-placed McLaren driver, finishing in seventh position, while Daniel Ricciardo settled for 12th place, trailing his Red Bull teammate Yuki Tsunoda by 0.3 seconds.

Ricciardo initially set the early pace, showcasing promising performance improvements after adjustments to his car’s balance. However, as the session progressed, Leclerc’s Ferrari proved dominant, setting the benchmark for the field.

Notably, Alex Albon was unable to participate due to his car sustaining damage from a collision with the wall during the opening practice session. Similarly, Williams experienced a tense moment when Logan Sargeant spun at Turn 11, narrowly avoiding contact with the walls.

Aston Martin demonstrated strong performance, with Lance Stroll topping the timesheets momentarily, followed closely by teammate Fernando Alonso. However, Ferrari reclaimed the spotlight with Leclerc and Sainz securing the top positions after completing their performance runs.

As the session shifted focus to race simulations, Leclerc maintained his lead, followed by Verstappen, Sainz, and the Aston Martin drivers.

With one final hour of practice remaining before qualifying for Sunday’s race, anticipation builds for Free Practice 3 scheduled to commence at 12:30 AEDT on Saturday.