(Melbourne) Monegasque Charles Leclerc dominated the first two practice sessions of the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix at the wheel of his Ferrari on Friday, ahead of championship leader Max Verstappen, in search of a tenth victory in a row this weekend.
On the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne – which should host the first GP of the season next year – Leclerc responded to the Briton Lando Norris (McLaren) who had finished in the lead in the first practice session held earlier during the day.
“From the first laps I felt comfortable with the car,” explained the Scuderia driver. “But we still have a lot of work to do, because Red Bull didn’t “push”, they are still ahead,” he also tempered.
Before the third meeting of the season, Verstappen and his Mexican teammate Sergio Pérez have already confirmed the excellent form of the Austrian team, taking the first places after the first two Grands Prix, in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. , early March.
Winner last year in Australia after a chaotic GP, Verstappen is still logically the favorite this year, such has been his insolent domination in recent years.
If he wins on Sunday at the Albert Park track, “Mad Max” would equal his record for consecutive victories. In 2023, the reigning champion had won ten Grands Prix in a row, breaking the record of the German Sebastian Vettel (9 victories in a row in 2013).
PHOTO JAIMI JOY, REUTERS
Max Verstappen
On Friday, however, Verstappen suffered a disappointment after damaging his floor during the first hour of testing. Forced to repair it, the Dutchman lost 20 minutes of driving during the second session.
“The car got worse” for Hamilton
In front of more than 124,000 people – a record for a GP Friday in Australia – the Spaniard Carlos Sainz finished the day third. The Ferrari driver returns to his seat this weekend just two weeks after having surgery for appendicitis.
The Aston Martins of Canadian Lance Stroll and double 2005-2006 world champion Fernando Alonso took the 4e and 5e best times of this first day in Australia.
The Briton George Russell (Mercedes), the Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren), Pérez, Norris and the Japanese Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls) complete the Top 10 of the best times of the day.
Far behind, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) finished 18e. The British, 9e after the first practice session, is the only driver not to have improved his time. He notably complained that “something [n’allait] not” during the second session.
“During the first free practice session, the car generally behaved well […]to continue learning, we made some important changes during FP2 (the second session, Editor’s note) and unfortunately, the car got worse”, he then explained, after “one of the worst sessions” he has ever known.
19 cars at the start of the GP
On the Alpine side, Pierre Gasly finished 15theahead of his teammate and French compatriot Esteban Ocon, 17e. Arriving this season with a brand new car, the French team is in great difficulty and currently occupies last place in the manufacturers’ standings.
Only 19 drivers out of 20 took part in the last tests of the day since the Thai Alexander Albon had to stay in the garage after heavily damaging the floor of his Williams during the first session.
PHOTO MARTIN KEEP, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Alexander Albon’s car
His team not having a spare floor, it decided to recover that of Logan Sargeant in order to maximize its chances of scoring points – Albon being more efficient than his teammate. Consequently, the American will not compete in qualifying or the GP on Sunday and Williams will only field one car for the rest of the weekend.
On Saturday, the drivers will be able to perfect the settings of their cars during the third and final free practice session scheduled for 12:30 p.m. local time, before competing in qualifying at 4 p.m.
Leclerc already warns: “I expect the peloton to be much tighter”. If the Monegasque ended the day at 381/1000e from Verstappen, during the first session, the first six drivers were within a tenth of a second.