Charles Leclerc of Ferrari topped the second practice session at the Australian Grand Prix, leading the way ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in what proved to be a challenging day for the latter.

Leclerc’s impressive performance saw him finish 0.381 seconds ahead of Verstappen, who faced setbacks after damaging his floor in an off-track incident during the first session, causing him to miss the first 20 minutes of practice.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz secured the third-fastest time, followed by Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin, and George Russell driving for Mercedes.

Reflecting on Ferrari’s performance, Leclerc expressed optimism, suggesting that they might have their “best shot” yet at challenging Red Bull this season.

However, Lewis Hamilton, driving for Mercedes, faced struggles throughout the day, finishing 18th fastest. Hamilton voiced concerns over his car’s performance, citing difficulties with both qualifying-style runs and race simulations.

Red Bull, usually dominant, faced a less than stellar performance, with Verstappen unable to match Leclerc’s pace. Despite the setbacks, Verstappen remained optimistic, indicating that there were areas for improvement.

The practice sessions were not without incidents, with several drivers experiencing off-track moments, particularly at the high-speed chicane at Turns 10 and 11.

However, unlike the first session, there were no crashes reported.

Williams driver Alex Albon, who crashed during the first session, missed the second practice, with his team announcing that he would compete in his teammate’s car for the remainder of the weekend due to damage to his chassis.

Mercedes appeared to struggle throughout the day, with both Russell and Hamilton experiencing moments of difficulty on track. Russell, however, remained optimistic about their performance potential.

Meanwhile, Ferrari showcased promising speed on both single laps and longer runs, with Leclerc expressing confidence in the team’s progress.

As the teams prepare for the remainder of the weekend, anticipation builds for what promises to be an exciting Australian Grand Prix, with Ferrari aiming to capitalize on their momentum and challenge the dominant Red Bull.