Max seventh in FP2: 'We need to find some pace'

Published on 14 March 2025 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen finished the opening day of the Australian Grand Prix in seventh. The reigning champion was nearly sixth tenth slower than pace setter Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) at the end of the second free practice session. The two McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris completed the top three. Max’s Oracle Red Bull Racing teammate Liam Lawson finished Friday practice is P17.

“The balance wasn’t bad, but for some reason we couldn’t find the grip”, said the Dutchman. “There aren’t really any balance issues, so it will be hard to solve. But it’s not completely unexpected; I’m not positively or negatively surprised by our pace. We’ve not really performed well around here since the track resurfacing. But it’s the same for everyone so we have find some more pace.”

At the start of the session the temperature hovers around the mid-twenties with the sun shining. With Albert Park being a street circuit, and it being the opening round of the championship, it is busy on track from the start as the team seek to gain as much data and valuable running as possible.

Unfortunately for Haas, Oliver Bearman’s running is cut short. After the rookie’s heavy crash in FP1, the team are unable to repair the car in time for the afternoon session.

After the opening flurry of timed laps, Carlos Sainz (Williams) tops the leader board ten minutes in, followed by Mercedes’ George Russell and Sainzs teammate Alex Albon. Max sits in eighth after clocking a few laps on the medium Pirelli compound.

A third of the way into the session, the teams bolt on the faster, soft tyres to prepare for qualifying simulations. Yuki Tsunoda is the early pace setter but is swiftly replaced by Leclerc who sets the quickest lap of the day to go fastest.

Meanwhile, Max has to abort his first flying lap as he wrestles the new RB21. His second run puts him in P10. By the time the Dutchman sets his quickest lap of the session, he does so on softs that are past their best, meaning he manages to only go seventh fastest.

With twenty minutes remaining, the teams switch their focus from qualifying to long runs to prepare for Sunday’s Grand Prix. It means the lap times are no longer bettered and Red Bull Racing have to settle for seventh and seventeenth with Max completing thirteen laps in FP2. Ferrari and McLaren set the early pace.

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Results second free practice Australia: