Charles Leclerc left new Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton trailing in his wake in free practice at the season-opening Australian Formula One Grand Prix on Friday as defending champion Max Verstappen struggled with the Red Bull car.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc posted the fastest time during Friday's second practice session for the Australian Grand Prix, getting around the Albert Park circuit in 1:16.439 seconds.

Lewis Hamilton says the work ethic of “Mr Ferrari” Charles Leclerc is what has surprised him most about his new Formula 1 team-mate at the Scuderia. Hamilton’s blockbuster move from Mercedes to join Ferrari means he becomes Leclerc’s third team-mate in the Monegasque’s now seven-year stint in red – after Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz.

Vettel had joined Ferrari the previous year from Red Bull, where he had won four straight world championships from 2010 to 2013, dominating the sport. Yet for all his success, nothing could match the allure of racing for F1’s most famous,

Lewis Hamilton finished fifth in practice for the Australian Grand Prix as his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc led the way in Melbourne. Leclerc ended Formula One’s first running of the new season 0.124 seconds ahead of McLaren driver and home favourite Oscar Piastri.

Charles Leclerc left new Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton trailing in his wake in free practice at the season-opening Australian Formula One Grand Prix on Friday as defending champion Max Verstappen struggled with the Red Bull car.

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has offered Lewis Hamilton some motivation by comparing him to the driver he replaced in the team, Carlos Sainz.

Lewis Hamilton will kick off the 2025 season with his new team at Ferrari, and former Red Bull boss Richard Hopkins said that another former world champion could have been his main motivation.