Charles Leclerc ended up fastest in FP2 of F1 Australian GP as Max Verstappen cut through the two Ferraris, with Carlos Sainz third.
After a hectic FP1, there were glimpses of that hectic-ness in FP2 as well in F1 Australian GP, as drivers continued to have the kerb moments. It included the pace-setter Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who set a time of 1m17.277s lap post the Turn 9 kerb moment.
It was a Ferrari 1-2 for a good time until Red Bull’s Max Verstappen cut through. The Dutchman spent a large amount of time in the pits as the team prepped up the car post a floor check after his kerb run towards the end of the first practice session.
Amid his recovery programme, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was third from the Aston Martin pair of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso. The Canadian had his moment too along with the Spaniard, where they could have improved a bit more on their times.
Mercedes’ George Russell was sixth after his Turn 1 grass moment – repeating his teammate’s move from FP1. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was seventh with teammate Lando Norris in ninth behind Red Bull’s Sergio Perez in a cleaner session for them.
Visa Cash App RB’s Yuki Tsunoda was a solid 10th ahead of Stake F1 Team’s Zhou Guanyu, with the other Visa Cash App RB of Daniel Ricciardo not far off in 12th. The lone Williams of Logan Sargeant was 13th, with the American having a spin in the session.
He ran over the kerb and spun around but managed to continue on. His teammate Alexander Albon couldn’t take part in FP2 after his FP1 shunt. Williams confirmed of no spare chassis, as they continued to assess if there was any damage to his chassis.
If there is damage, Williams will be forced to run just the one car in F1 Australian GP. Stake F1 Team’s Valtteri Bottas was 14ht from Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, who finished ahead of Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg, with the other Alpine of Esteban Ocon in 17th.
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton focused on long runs after abandoning his soft tyre runs to be 18th, with Haas’ Kevin Magnussen 19th after he elected to set his best time on the medium compound.
Here’s how FP1 of F1 Australian GP panned out
Here’s details on F1 Australian GP
Here’s link to a F1 Discord channel, join in to interact