Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc outperformed his new teammate Lewis Hamilton in the second free practice session for the Australian Grand Prix, the season opener of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship.
Leclerc clocked a fastest lap of 1:16.439 at Albert Park using soft tires, finishing 0.124 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who edged out his teammate Lando Norris for second place.
Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, secured fifth place, marking an improvement from his earlier 12th-place finish in the first practice session. However, he still trailed Leclerc by over four-tenths of a second.
Red Bull’s reigning champion Max Verstappen managed only the seventh-fastest time, while Mercedes’ George Russell, the team’s quickest driver, placed tenth.
With six rookie drivers making their debut this season, the practice sessions saw multiple incidents, including a crash involving Haas driver Oliver Bearman. The 19-year-old lost control at Turn 6, damaging his car and forcing his team to sit out the second session.
The chaotic start to the season suggests an unpredictable and competitive race weekend ahead in Melbourne.
