In Friday’s practice at the Australian Grand Prix, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc emerged as the fastest, outpacing Red Bull’s dominant force, Max Verstappen, by 0.381 seconds in what proved to be a challenging day for the Red Bull team.
Verstappen encountered a setback as he missed the initial 20 minutes of practice due to damaging his floor in an off-track incident during the first session.
This delayed start hindered his ability to match Leclerc’s pace, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz securing the third spot on the timesheets. Following closely behind were Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin, with George Russell representing Mercedes.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, driving for Mercedes, struggled to find pace throughout the session, landing in the 18th position. Hamilton voiced concerns over the team radio, indicating that something felt amiss with the car’s performance.
Red Bull, typically dominant, faced unexpected challenges. Verstappen’s delayed start disrupted his rhythm, and despite having what should have been favorable track conditions, he couldn’t match Leclerc’s pace. Additionally, his high-fuel run lacked strength, partly due to traffic and its brevity.
The session witnessed several drivers experiencing off-track moments, particularly at the high-speed chicane of Turns 10 and 11. Fortunately, no major accidents occurred, unlike in the first session, where Alex Albon of Williams lost control and crashed into the wall at Turn Eight. Consequently, Albon sat out the second session as the team evaluated his car’s damage.
Mercedes also faced challenges, evident in both drivers experiencing moments of instability. Russell had a slight loss of control at Turn Nine, followed by a grassy excursion at Turn One, while Hamilton ran wide at Turn 10. These issues raised concerns for Mercedes, especially considering their rear-end instability problems in Saudi Arabia.
In contrast, Ferrari exhibited promising pace, showing strength in both single laps and longer runs. The team’s solid performance marked a positive start to the weekend, setting high expectations for the Italian outfit.
Source: BBC Sports
