Piastri Leads Mercedes in Australian Practice Sessions
Oscar Piastri of McLaren topped the timesheets in the second practice session at the Australian Grand Prix, finishing with a lap time of 1:19.729. He beat out the Mercedes duo of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell in a session marked by several incidents and investigations.
Session Highlights
The second practice session saw a flurry of activity as teams gathered data ahead of Sunday’s 58-lap race. Several drivers opted for hard tires early in the session, although others focused on qualifying simulations later on.
Early Incidents and Investigations
The session wasn’t without its drama. George Russell (Mercedes) made contact with Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) in the pit lane, an incident that will be investigated by the stewards. Franco Colapinto also experienced a slowdown on track, forcing Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) to take evasive action. This incident is also under review.
Technical Issues
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) faced a stall in the pit lane, requiring assistance to return to the garage. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) experienced a suspected power unit issue, completing only an out lap before returning to the pits. His teammate, Lance Stroll, managed a lap but remained at the back of the order. Sergio Perez (Cadillac) also had a difficult session, stopping on track with a suspected hydraulic issue and bringing out a Virtual Safety Car, after earlier issues with a sensor fault prevented him from setting a representative time.
Practice 2 Results
Here’s a appear at the top five drivers from the second practice session:
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:19.729
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +0.214s
- George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.320s
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – +0.321s
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.562s
Further Down the Order
Verstappen finished ahead of Lando Norris, while Lindblad continued to impress with a strong pace. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) placed 12th, followed by Liam Lawson, Gabriel Bortoleto, Alex Albon, and Pierre Gasly. Carlos Sainz (Williams) had limited running, ending the session in 17th, ahead of Colapinto and Valtteri Bottas. Alonso and Stroll were 20th and 21st, respectively, with Perez last after completing only two laps.
Looking Ahead
Teams will now analyze the data collected during the opening practice sessions before Free Practice 3 on Saturday. The Australian Grand Prix qualifying is scheduled for Saturday, and the race will take place on Sunday.
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