Leclerc tops 2nd practice at Australian GP with Hamilton 5th and Bortoleto 18th in F1 opener

The 2025 @F1 grid features TWELVE #F2 graduates! 🎓✨#RoadToF1 pic.twitter.com/6OzXVCGs2p

— Formula 2 (@Formula2) March 14, 2025

Ferrari and McLaren set the pace in Melbourne

Charles Leclerc took charge of the second free practice with a standout lap, clocking 1m16s439 as the benchmark time. The Monegasque, chasing his maiden world title with Ferrari, displayed consistency by leading the session, particularly in the final 20 minutes when the team shifted focus to race simulations. Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time champion who joined Ferrari in one of the year’s biggest transfers, briefly held second place early on but dropped to fifth, trailing Leclerc by 0.420 seconds. The gap between the Ferrari duo suggests there’s still room for fine-tuning ahead of Saturday’s qualifying.

McLaren confirmed its pre-season promise with a strong showing. Local hero Oscar Piastri finished just 0.124 seconds behind Leclerc, while Lando Norris, who led much of the session, took third, 0.141 seconds off the top. The British squad demonstrated a car capable of excelling in both single-lap pace and longer runs, positioning them as serious contenders for a podium finish on Sunday.

Red Bull, typically a dominant force in recent years, had a quieter outing. Max Verstappen, winner of the opening two races in 2024, placed seventh, over half a second off Leclerc’s pace. His teammate, rookie Liam Lawson, struggled to 17th, 1.201 seconds behind the leader, indicating that the Austrian team may need more time to dial in their setup for the Melbourne circuit.

Bortoleto’s debut and grid surprises

Gabriel Bortoleto, Brazil’s first full-time F1 driver since Felipe Massa, began his Formula 1 journey cautiously at the Australian GP. In the second practice, the Sauber rookie posted a 1m17s847, landing in 18th, 1.408 seconds off the lead. Though the result was modest, Bortoleto improved from his 15th-place finish in the first session. His teammate, Nico Hulkenberg, stole the spotlight by jumping to eighth with a 1m17s161, outpacing the Brazilian by 0.686 seconds. The German’s experience and a timely switch to soft tires proved decisive, while Bortoleto focused on learning the ropes in his debut weekend.

Other rookies also made their mark. Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar secured sixth, 0.580 seconds off Leclerc, while Yuki Tsunoda took fourth, 0.345 seconds behind the leader. The duo’s performance suggests that Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s sister team, could emerge as a dark horse in 2025. Meanwhile, Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli finished 16th, 1.195 seconds off the pace, as the German outfit worked through setup tweaks following George Russell’s crash in the first session.

Haas faced a significant setback. Oliver Bearman, sidelined after a heavy crash in the first practice, missed the entire second session due to repairs, including an engine and gearbox swap. Esteban Ocon, the team’s sole representative on track, ended in 19th, 1.595 seconds behind Leclerc, signaling a challenging weekend ahead for the American squad.

Australian GP schedule and timings

The Melbourne weekend continues with a packed schedule for teams and drivers. The third free practice is set for Friday, March 14, at 22:30 Brasília time, offering a final chance for tweaks before qualifying, scheduled for Saturday at 02:00. The race, the highlight of the event, takes place on Sunday, March 16, at 01:00, with live coverage on Band TV and real-time updates via Bandsports.

Here’s the full Australian GP schedule:

• Thursday, March 13: Free Practice 1 at 22:30
• Friday, March 14: Free Practice 2 at 02:00, Free Practice 3 at 22:30
• Saturday, March 15: Qualifying at 02:00
• Sunday, March 16: Race at 01:00

The Albert Park circuit, with its 58-lap race distance, promises additional challenges, including tire wear and weather, though forecasts predict dry conditions with less than a 10% chance of rain over the weekend.

Team performances and standout strategies

The second practice session unveiled a competitive grid, with Ferrari and McLaren leading the charge. Leclerc and Hamilton spent the closing minutes on race simulations, signaling Ferrari’s focus on balancing speed and endurance for Sunday. McLaren leaned into soft-tire runs, securing second and third for Piastri and Norris, respectively. Racing Bulls also jumped on the soft-tire strategy early, with Tsunoda and Hadjar reaping the rewards in the top six.

Red Bull, despite Verstappen’s seventh place, held back its full potential. The team stuck with medium tires longer before switching to softs, hinting at a setup geared toward qualifying and race day. Mercedes, the only team to start on hard tires, finished with Russell in 10th and Antonelli in 16th, suggesting they’re still honing their package post-preseason. Sauber, with Hulkenberg in eighth and Bortoleto in 18th, showed mid-field promise, though the Brazilian will need more laps to close the gap.

Aston Martin and Williams rounded out the top 10 with Lance Stroll in ninth and George Russell in 10th, while Carlos Sainz, now at Williams, slipped to 11th after leading the first session. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) took 13th, and Alexander Albon (Williams) 12th, reflecting ongoing adjustments for the mid-tier teams.

Australian GP numbers and highlights

Key stats and tidbits from the second practice session and the event’s context include:

• Leclerc’s 1m16s439 was the day’s fastest, nearly a second quicker than his own 2024 race lap record of 1m19s813.
• The top five were separated by just 0.420 seconds, pointing to a tight battle at the front.
• Bortoleto, in 18th, trailed Hulkenberg by 0.686 seconds but was 1.408 seconds off Leclerc, underscoring the rookie learning curve.
• Racing Bulls landed two cars in the top six, a rare feat for the team in recent seasons.

Albert Park, hosting the Australian GP for the 28th time, saw Ferrari claim a 1-2 finish in 2024 with Sainz and Leclerc, while Verstappen retired due to mechanical issues. This year, Hamilton’s arrival could shift the narrative.

What to expect from qualifying and the race

With the third practice and qualifying looming, teams have limited time to refine their setups. Ferrari, spearheaded by Leclerc, holds a slight edge in single-lap pace, but McLaren’s consistency could snag pole position for Piastri or Norris. Hamilton, still settling into Ferrari, has room to climb, while Verstappen and Red Bull are likely to bounce back after a subdued Friday. Bortoleto will aim to narrow the gap to Hulkenberg and build confidence in his debut.

Sunday’s 58-lap race will test tire strategies and long-run pace. Dry weather should favor aggressive aerodynamic setups, though tire degradation on Albert Park’s fast corners will be critical. Rookies like Bortoleto, Hadjar, and Antonelli add an element of unpredictability to the weekend.

Melbourne reaffirms its status as Formula 1’s ideal season opener, delivering excitement and competition from the outset of 2025. A refreshed grid, with new drivers and team shake-ups, sets the stage for a thrilling championship, and the Australian GP has already provided a tantalizing preview.