Lando Norris was fastest in first practice, setting a 1m18.564s lap, while Leclerc paced FP2 with a quickest time of 1m17.277s.
Australian GP FP1 results: Norris fastest from Verstappen
What happened in Australian GP Free Practice 1?
Norris set the pace for McLaren in the opening session at Albert Park, edging out the Red Bull of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia GP winner Max Verstappen by just 0.018 seconds.
Third place went to George Russell in the first Mercedes, while Ferrari’s Leclerc made it four different teams inside the top four. Yuki Tsunoda was fifth for RB in an ultra-competitive session where the top eight were separated by just over a tenth.
FP1 was red-flagged after Alex Albon ran over the kerbs at Turn 7 and smashed his Williams twice into the barriers on either side of the track. He still managed to finish 12th based on his previous lap time.
Australian GP FP2 results: Leclerc fastest from Verstappen
What happened in Australian GP Free Practice 2?
With more much more rubber laid on the track, Leclerc was able to beat Norris’ FP1 benchmark by well over a second to top the times in the afternoon session.
Leclerc’s best effort of 1m17.277s put him almost four tenths up on Verstappen’s quickest time in the Red Bull, while Carlos Sainz rounded out a strong day for Ferrari in third.
Aston Martin duo Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso were fourth and fifth quickest, while Russell was again the fastest Mercedes driver in sixth.
Albon missed FP2 after taking severe damage to his Williams in his earlier practice crash.
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