Formula 1

Charles Leclerc Quickest In Australian GP Practice As Oliver Bearman Suffers Big Crash In First Session

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By
Kieran Lynch
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Kieran Lynch Sports Editor

Kieran Lynch is a sports writer specialising in football and Formula One. He is a sports journalism graduate of Leeds Trinity University and completed a Press Association NCTJ course in Newcastle. He previously worked as a news reporter for the Eastern Daily Press in Norfolk and spent five years as a sports writer at the MailOnline.

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Published14 Mar 2025

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Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc set the quickest time over the two practice sessions on Friday ahead of the Australian GP, and here SportsCasting has all the times from the morning and afternoon sessions in Melbourne.

Charles Leclerc Quickest In Australian GP Practice

On the first official day of the 2025 Formula One season ahead of the Ferrari who emerged quickest over both sessions.

The quickest times came in the second session held in the afternoon at Albert Park in Melbourne.

Leclerc led McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in second practice as Ferrari showed some encouraging signs of their car’s potential.

The Monegasque driver comfortably had the better of Lewis Hamilton over both sessions. The Brit making his debut for Ferrari was over four tenths slower than Leclerc in the second session.

Hamilton was fifth overall in the afternoon, sandwiched by the Racing Bulls who showed a surprising turn of pace with Yuki Tsunoda in fourth and rookie Isack Hadjar in sixth.

World champion Max Verstappen struggled in seventh with his new team-mate Liam Lawson all the way down in 17th.

Nico Hulkenberg emerged from a heavy trip through the gravel to take eighth for Sauber ahead of Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and lead Mercedes driver George Russell.

For SportsCasting’s preview into the Australian Grand Prix click here.

Oliver Bearman Suffers Heavy Crash In First Practice

Oliver Bearman sat out the afternoon session after a heavy crash in the morning in his new Haas.

The British driver competing in his first full F1 season ran wide over the gravel and grass before losing control and spinning nose-first into the barrier.

His Haas suffered damage to both sides of the car but he walked away unscathed.

At the time, Williams driver Carlos Sainz was quickest in the morning session ahead of his former teammate Charles Leclerc.

Norris – whose first soft-tyre effort was compromised by an on-track battle with Yuki Tsunoda – set the quickest time to beat the Williams by 0.149s.

His quickest lap in the morning was some seven tenths of a second slower than the time he set in the second session.

Full F1 Australian GP Second Practice Results

  • 1. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] – 1:16.439sec
  • 2. Oscar Piastri [McLaren] – +0.124
  • 3. Lando Norris [McLaren] – +0.141
  • 4. Yuki Tsunoda [Racing Bulls] – +0.345
  • 5. Lewis Hamilton [Ferrari] – +0.420
  • 6. Isack Hadjar [Racing Bulls] – +0.580
  • 7. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] – +0.624
  • 8. Nico Hulkenberg [Kick Sauber] – +0.722
  • 9. Lance Stroll [Aston Martin] – +0.840
  • 10. George Russell [Mercedes] – +0.843
  • 11. Carlos Sainz [Williams] – +0.863
  • 12. Alex Albon [Williams] – +0.863
  • 13. Fernando Alonso [Aston Martin] – +0.891
  • 14. Jack Doohan [Alpine] – +0.955
  • 15. Pierre Gasly [Alpine] – +1.054
  • 16. Andrea Kimi Antonelli [Mercedes] – +1.195
  • 17. Liam Lawson [Red Bull] – +1.201
  • 18. Gabriel Bortoleto [Kick Sauber] – +1.408
  • 19. Esteban Ocon [Haas] – +1.595
  • 20. Oliver Bearman [Haas] – No time

Full F1 Australian GP First Practice Results

  • 1. Lando Norris [McLaren] – 1:17.252
  • 2. Carlos Sainz [Williams] – +0.149
  • 3. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] – +0.209
  • 4. Oscar Piastri [McLaren] – +0.418
  • 5. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] – +0.444
  • 6. Alex Albon [Williams] – +0.461
  • 7. George Russell [Mercedes] – +0.464
  • 8. Fernando Alonso [Aston Martin] – +0.484
  • 9. Isack Hadjar [Racing Bulls] – +0.595
  • 10. Lance Stroll [Aston Martin] – +0.805
  • 11. Yuki Tsunoda [Racing Bulls] – +0.809
  • 12. Lewis Hamilton [Ferrari] – +0.819
  • 13. Jack Doohan [Alpine] – +0.980
  • 14. Kimi Antonelli [Mercedes] – +1.138
  • 15. Gabriel Bortoleto [Kick Sauber] – +1.186
  • 16. Liam Lawson [Red Bull] – +1.203
  • 17. Pierre Gasly [Alpine] – +1.253
  • 18. Nico Hulkenberg [Kick Sauber] – +1.334
  • 19. Esteban Ocon [Haas] – +1.887
  • 20. Oliver Bearman [Haas] – +2.060

When Is Australian GP Qualifying And Race?

British F1 fans will have to wake up early for qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix which starts at 5am GMT on Saturday, March 15.

The race on Sunday is even earlier with lights out at 4am GMT.

Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports F1 on the TV or either on the Sky Go App or NOW TV for those looking to stream the action.

You must be based in the United Kingdom and have either a Sky or NOW TV subscription.