2024 Rolex Australian Grand Prix Race Recap،
Charles Leclerc topped Ferrari's timesheets in second free practice for the Australian Grand Prix on Friday after Williams driver Alex Albon destroyed his car in the first session with a crash on a familiar corner at Albert Park .
Leclerc set a flying lap of one minute and 17.277 seconds on soft tires midway through the session, 0.381 seconds faster than Red Bull's reigning world champion Max Verstappen.
The Dutchman, who was aiming for a second consecutive victory in Australia and a third consecutive victory this season, made a late start in the second session after damaging the floor of his car in the first.
His teammate Sergio Perez was eighth fastest on a day when most cars struggled for grip on the street circuit.
by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images
Leclerc's time was more than a second faster than McLaren driver Lando Norris' benchmark lap (1:18.564) in opening practice (FP1), which was halted in the final 20 minutes after the crash of Albon raised a red flag.
The English-born Thai locked up and took a big hit into the barrier at turn six, then rushed into the opposite barrier to damage both sides of his car, leaving debris across a long section of Track.
This came a year after Albon crashed at the same corner on race day, triggering one of three red flags.
Albon got out of his car unharmed and apologized over the team radio. He missed FP2 while his team was working on his car, and Williams, which does not have a spare chassis in Melbourne, could lose a driver for the remainder of the race weekend if he is not in able to repair it.
Carlos Sainz made a successful return to his Ferrari racing seat two weeks after an operation for appendicitis, recording the third fastest lap in FP2 after finishing eighth in FP1.
It was, however, a sobering day for Mercedes, whose early season problems appear to have followed them to Australia.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton reported a problem with his Mercedes during FP2, recording only the 18th fastest lap after being ninth fastest earlier.
Russell finished sixth in FP2 and third in FP1, but also struggled to maintain control, joining Hamilton with an off-track skid early in the session and complaining of vibrations in his steering rack.
“I didn’t feel good today,” Hamilton said.
“We made big changes in FP2 and unfortunately it made the car even worse.”
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll finished fourth in FP2, ahead of teammate Fernando Alonso.
Following Albon's crash, Williams suffered another scare in FP2 when Logan Sargeant, who recorded the 13th fastest lap, slid off the track exiting Turn 11.
