2025 F1 Australian Grand Prix - Friday Practice Results

Charles Leclerc ended Friday practice at the F1 season-opening Australian Grand Prix fastest for Ferrari.

Leclerc heads McLarens in FP2

Leclerc set the pace during the first performance runs of the 2025 season on soft tyres with a 1m16.439s.

That put the Ferrari driver 0.124 seconds clear of home hero Oscar Piastri, who shaded McLaren teammate Lando Norris with the second-quickest time.

Yuki Tsunoda was a surprise third for Racing Bulls, with Lewis Hamilton improving to fifth in second practice. The seven-time world champion was 0.420s adrift of Leclerc as he continues to get up to speed at Ferrari.

F1 rookie Isack Hadjar was sixth in the second Racing Bulls car, with reigning world champion Max Verstappen seventh and over six tenths off the pace in his Red Bull.

New Red Bull driver Liam Lawson was down in 17th and eight tenths slower than teammate Verstappen.

Nico Hulkenberg popped his Sauber into eighth, ahead of Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, and the Mercedes of George Russell, who rounded out the top-10 in FP2.

Following his heavy crash in first practice, British rookie Oliver Bearman did not take part in the second hour-long session in Melbourne. 

Norris leads Sainz in FP1

Lando Norris left it late to take to the top of the timesheets in FP1. 

Before that, Carlos Sainz set the pace for Williams with an impressive lap of 1m17.401s.

While it was only the first practice session, most drivers were keen to try the soft tyres as they gear up for qualifying tomorrow.

Sainz led the way until the final few minutes before Norris eclipsed him.

Norris is widely expected to start the season as the heavy favourite following an impressive showing in pre-season F1 testing.

It’s still early days, but a very positive start overall for the British driver.

Charles Leclerc completed the top three for Ferrari, narrowly behind his former teammate.

It was an action-packed first session of 2025 with two red flags.

Gravel on the track caused the first stoppage, while a heavy shunt for Haas’ Ollie Bearman caused the second.

Bearman lost control of his car on the exit of Turn 12, having run into the gravel trap.

Oscar Piastri made it two McLarens in the top four, 0.4s off the pace set by his teammate.

Max Verstappen set the fifth-fastest time in the RB21, just ahead of the second Williams of Alex Albon.

George Russell, Fernando Alonso, Isack Hadjar and Lance Stroll rounded out the top 10.