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Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets in the second practice session of the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, leading McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in an action-packed FP2. With teams shifting their focus to both one-lap pace and long-run simulations, Ferrari showed strong form under the Melbourne lights.
Following Norris' FP1 dominance, the cars returned to the track at 16:00 local time for another hour of running. Kick Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto was the first driver out, but one notable absentee early on was Ollie Bearman, whose Haas team was still repairing his car after a heavy crash in FP1.
Before reaching the circuit, there was an awkward moment in the pit lane between Norris and Liam Lawson. As Norris attempted a practice start at the exit, Lawson charged past, forcing the McLaren driver onto the grass in an unexpected moment of tension.
The session quickly picked up pace with drivers experimenting on medium tyres. Initially, Ferrari locked out the top two spots, with Leclerc leading teammate Lewis Hamilton. However, as teams switched to the soft compound tyres for quicker laps, the order shifted dramatically.
Yuki Tsunoda briefly put Racing Bulls on top before Norris set a 1m 16.580s to take P1. However, Leclerc responded emphatically, clocking a 1m 16.439s, ultimately securing first place.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen's session was hampered by set-up adjustments, keeping the Red Bull driver in the garage for an extended period before eventually finishing seventh.
Leclerc on Top -- Ferrari looks competitive, with Leclerc's best time of 1m 16.439s enough to lead the session.
McLaren in the Hunt -- Piastri and Norris finished second and third, confirming McLaren's early strength.
Racing Bulls Surprise -- Tsunoda (P4) and Hadjar (P6) showcased the team's strong potential.
Hamilton in P5 -- Despite struggles in FP1, the seven-time World Champion found better form in FP2.
Verstappen Held Back -- The reigning champion sat in P7 after missing crucial track time.
Mixed Day for Mercedes & Williams -- Russell rounded out the top 10, while Sainz and Albon finished P11 and P12 for Williams.
With Friday's sessions completed, teams will now analyze their data before returning to action on Saturday for the final practice session at 12:30 local time. Qualifying later in the day will reveal the true pecking order ahead of Sunday's highly anticipated race.
Will Ferrari maintain their edge? Can McLaren carry over their practice pace into qualifying? And will Verstappen bounce back? The battle for pole is set to be fierce in Melbourne.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.
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