2024-03-22 06:24:53
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc got in the mood for the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Australia in Melbourne with the best time of the day in training. The Monegasse drove 0.381 seconds faster in the second session on Friday than world champion Max Verstappen in the Red Bull. Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz was third. There should no longer be any doubts about the fitness of the Spaniard, who was forced to watch in Saudi Arabia because of an appendectomy.
In the first training session, Lando Norris set the fastest time in the McLaren. The Brit relegated Verstappen and Mercedes man George Russell to second and third place. The time gaps were extremely small – Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, for example, was in sixth place, only 0.078 seconds slower than the leading man.
An accident involving Williams driver Alexander Albon initially caused a longer interruption. The English-born driver with a Thai license lost control of his car in turn six and crashed into the track wall. Albon wrecked his car, but was able to get out on his own. After an interruption of around ten minutes due to rescue work, the training continued.
Verstappen’s tenth victory in a row across the seasons is on the agenda on Sunday (5 a.m. CET/live ServusTV, Sky). If the Dutchman also finishes in first place in Australia, he would have equalized his own Formula 1 record from the previous season.
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