Charles Leclerc was quickest from Max Verstappen in second observe on a dramatic Friday on the Australian Grand Prix.
Leclerc appeared very pleased along with his Ferrari and was 0.381s forward of Verstappen, whose day was removed from easy after damaging his flooring in first observe.
Verstappen led dominant Crimson Bull one-twos on the two opening occasions and leads the championship by 15 factors from team-mate Sergio Perez coming into this weekend
Ferrari may even be inspired to see Carlos Sainz in third after he returned from profitable appendix surgical procedure which pressured him to overlook the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The opposite key second of the day was Alex Albon’s large crash throughout first observe as he went off within the high-speed first sector and hit two partitions.
Albon missed second observe however Williams would not have a spare chassis, so ought to his automotive require a brand new one, the staff might solely have one automotive for the rest of the weekend.
“Alex Albon has broken his chassis – that is the survival cell, the bathtub round which the entrance and rear suspension and entrance suspension, the engine and nostril cone really go onto,” stated Sky Sports activities F1’s Ted Kravitz.
“The query is now, as a result of they do not have a spare chassis, whether or not they can restore that chassis. They do not know that but, they hope they will but when they cannot, they must face the query of whether or not they swap Alex Albon for Logan Sargeant and that is a query they’ll battle with all through the night.”
A number of different drivers additionally had offs however managed to keep away from the partitions, together with Lewis Hamilton who did not look like pleased along with his Mercedes as he completed ninth and 18th within the two periods.
Hamilton went large at Flip 10 on a couple of event and in addition had a visit via the grass on the first chicane, underlining his dissatisfaction along with his automotive.
The seven-time world champion did not get a clear lap in on his smooth tyre runs, earlier than sustaining harm when operating large which broke the ‘cake tin’, which is another title for the carbon fibre shroud that goes across the entrance wheel hub and the brake calliper and the disc.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Zhou Guanyu blocks Max Verstappen to his displeasure throughout a flying lap in Apply Two in Australia
Elsewhere in second observe, Aston Martin regarded sturdy with Lance Stroll in fourth and Fernando Alonso in fifth.
George Russell was seven-tenths behind Leclerc’s main time in sixth, with Oscar Piastri seventh on dwelling soil, Sergio Perez eighth, Lando Norris in ninth and Yuki Tsunoda tenth.
Norris quickest in first observe
Earlier within the day, Norris was quickest in an eventful first observe in Melbourne from Verstappen with the highest six automobiles break up by lower than one tenth of a second.
Norris set the quickest time of the session earlier than Albon had his large crash on the quick Turns 6 and seven, rebounding off the wall which introduced out a crimson flag with 20 minutes to go.
A number of drivers made errors, notably on the fast right-hander of Flip 10 with Alonso the primary automotive to make a visit throughout the gravel and broken his flooring.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Fernando Alonso misses the apex and finds the gravel at Flip 10 in observe one
Hamilton and Verstappen additionally went large on the similar nook close to the top of the session and each reported flooring harm.
Verstappen’s second-place time was set because the chequered flag fell and he was solely 0.018s slower than Norris.
Russell was third, forward of Ferrari’s Leclerc, RB’s Tsunoda and the Crimson Bull of Perez however monitor circumstances had been unrepresentative because the circuit sped up through the session.
Sky Sports activities F1’s dwell Australian GP schedule
The third spherical of the 2024 F1 season takes place on Sunday, with lights out at 4am on Sky Sports activities F1
Saturday March 23
- 0.10am: F3 Dash
- 1.10am: Australian GP Apply Three (session begins at 1.30am)
- 3.10am: F2 Dash
- 4.15am: Australian GP Qualifying build-up
- 5am: Australian GP Qualifying
- 7am: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book
- 7.30am: Australian GP Qualifying highlights
- 8.30am: Australian GP Qualifying replay (Sky Showcase)
- 10.30am: Australian GP Qualifying replay
- 10pm: F3 Characteristic Race
Sunday March 24
- 0.30am: F2 Characteristic Race
- 3am: Australian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday
- 4am: THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX
- 6am: Australian GP response: Chequered flag
- 7am: Ted’s Pocket book
- 7.30am: Australian GP highlights
- 8.30am: Australian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday replay
- 9.30am: Australian GP race replay
- 10am: Australian GP highlights (Sky Showcase)
- 11.30am: Australian GP response: Chequered flag replay
System 1’s greatest ever season continues with the Australian Grand Prix this weekend, with Sunday’s race dwell on Sky Sports activities F1 at 4am. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – no contract, cancel anytime
Get Sky Sports activities on WhatsApp!
Now you can begin receiving messages and alerts for the most recent breaking sports activities information, evaluation, in-depth options and movies from our devoted WhatsApp channel!
