Charles Leclerc leads Practice Two at the Australian GP while Lewis Hamilton fails to keep up with his Ferrari teammate’s speed

Charles Leclerc topped the charts in the second practice session at the Australian Grand Prix, showcasing Ferrari’s competitive edge as Lewis Hamilton made his much-anticipated debut for the Scuderia. Hamilton’s performance attracted considerable attention, especially given his high-profile shift from Mercedes. However, he found himself trailing behind his teammate Leclerc, finishing fifth on the timesheets after an earlier 12th position in the first practice session.

Leclerc’s leading time of 1:16.439 was particularly impressive, placing him ahead of McLaren’s dynamic duo, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who had led the opening practice session. The gap was tight, with Leclerc edging out the McLaren drivers by over a tenth of a second, indicating that Ferrari is in contention for pole position as the weekend unfolds at Albert Park.

Hamilton expressed his excitement about racing for Ferrari, stating, “It’s (been) a super exciting build-up to this week and it felt amazing to get out there and be in a Ferrari here.” He also noted the distinct feel of the car compared to his previous experiences, which took some adjustment during the practice sessions. “Honestly, the car felt so much different to what I’ve ever experienced coming to this track, so it took a little bit of bedding in through P1. P2 was definitely a little better but just building. We’re slowly building and getting a little bit faster bit by bit,” Hamilton added, reflecting a sense of gradual progress as he familiarizes himself with the new car and team.

The conversation in the paddock has largely centered around the expectations for reigning constructors’ champions McLaren, who many anticipated would debut the fastest car of the season. However, Leclerc’s recent performance suggests that Ferrari is not just a contender but could potentially challenge for supremacy in Saturday’s qualifying session and throughout the race weekend.

Additionally, Ferrari’s competitiveness was visible not only in Leclerc’s single-lap pace but also during the longer runs conducted towards the session’s end. The performances in practice, while indicative, often come with caveats—teams typically adjust their setups and fuel loads that may not reflect their ultimate qualifying and race pace.

In a noteworthy performance, Yuki Tsunoda claimed the fourth position, finishing ahead of Hamilton for his team Racing Bulls. His rookie teammate, Isack Hadjar, impressed by securing sixth place, indicating a strong showing from the rookie team. The veteran Max Verstappen, on the other hand, faced challenges, managing only seventh as he embarks on his pursuit of a fifth consecutive drivers’ title. His new teammate, Liam Lawson, encountered difficulties as well, finishing down in 17th.

Both Verstappen and George Russell of Mercedes struggled with their vehicle handling, as teams grappled with finding balanced setups for their 2025 cars. Russell, who had difficulties gaining traction in earlier sessions, went off track during P2, ultimately finishing in 10th position. His new teammate, former Formula 2 star Kimi Antonelli, could only manage 16th, indicating room for improvement ahead of the competitive weekend.

Mercedes did exhibit some pace on the medium and hard tyre compounds during practice, but there was concern within the team as they struggled to achieve substantial gains when switching to the faster soft compounds, adding pressure to their preparations going into the race.

Lastly, British rookie Oliver Bearman narrowly missed the opportunity to take part in the second practice session, as Haas faced time constraints in completing repairs on his car after a significant crash in the opening practice. The continuous unfolding of this race weekend demonstrates that while much remains uncertain, several narratives are developing that will likely impact the unfolding championship battle.

Australian GP Practice Two Timesheet

Driver	Team	Time
1) Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	1:16.439
2) Oscar Piastri	McLaren	+0.124
3) Lando Norris	McLaren	+0.141
4) Yuki Tsunoda	RB	+0.345
5) Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	+0.420
6) Isack Hadjar	RB	+0.580
7) Max Verstappen	Red Bull	+0.624
8) Nico Hulkenberg	Sauber	+0.722
9) Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	+0.840
10) George Russell	Mercedes	+0.843
11) Carlos Sainz	Williams	+0.863
12) Alex Albon	Williams	+0.863
13) Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	+0.891
14) Jack Doohan	Alpine	+0.955
15) Pierre Gasly	Alpine	+1.054
16) Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	+1.195
17) Liam Lawson	Red Bull	+1.201
18) Gabriel Bortoleto	Sauber	+1.408
19) Esteban Ocon	Haas	+1.595
20) Oliver Bearman	Haas	No time set