Fernando Alonso topped the timesheets for Aston Martin in a rain-hit second free practice at the Australian Grand Prix yesterday after Formula One champion Max Verstappen was quickest in the dry first session.
Alonso was quick to post a lap of one minute and 18.887 seconds on medium tyres before the rain came and finished nearly half a second clear of Ferrari’s second fastest Charles Leclerc.
Red Bull’s Verstappen was third quickest ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell but caution took priority over pace and the conditions allowed for little meaningful running.
Lewis Hamilton, second fastest in the first session, posted only the 13th fastest lap in the second and spent much of it in the garage as engineers tinkered with his car.
Verstappen and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz almost collided in traffic as cars jammed the track before the rain, but McLaren’s Lando Norris was the first to come to grief when the weather changed as he slid into grass and gravel at turn one.
The rain sent most drivers back for a long stretch in the garage but a few emerged later in the session.
Leclerc and Sainz came out on soft tyres but soon pitted to change to the mediums after struggling for grip, as Alonso’s early time went unchallenged.
Verstappen earlier topped an eventful first session under blue skies, lapping in one minute, 18.790 seconds, nearly half a second quicker than Hamilton.
Verstappen’s team mate Sergio Perez was third quickest, with Alonso fourth.
Leclerc and Sainz were fifth and sixth quickest with Norris seventh.
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