Ferrari tops the time sheets in both Australian GP practice sessions on Friday

Ferrari's promising start to the Formula One season continued on Friday as the glamour team dominated free practice at the Australian Grand Prix at a revamped Albert Park circuit.

Ferrari's championship leader Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets with a lap of 1min18.978 in second free practice after being second to team mate Carlos Sainz in the first.

However, Red Bull showed they will be nipping at their heels this weekend with world champion Max Verstappen splitting the Ferraris in the second session, 0.245 seconds adrift of Leclerc.

The Dutchman was fourth quickest in the first session.

Twice world champion Fernando Alonso surprised by briefly topping the timesheets for Alpine before finishing fourth fastest in the second session, one ahead of Red Bull's Sergio Perez.

.@charles_leclerc feelings after #FP2 ??#essereFerrari ?? #AusGP pic.twitter.com/BsjcHAGUaI

Mercedes were well off the pace, with George Russell 11th quickest in the second session, more than 1.2 seconds adrift of Leclerc. His seven-times championship-winning team mate Hamilton was 13th quickest.

Two years after the race was scrapped due to Covid-19, the drivers struggled to get to grips with changes at the lakeside circuit, with fewer corners and wider turns making it a different proposition to the old lay-out.

Red flags came out in both sessions as cars left debris on the resurfaced track, and a number skidded into the gravel.

Four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel, who missed the first two races after a positive Covid-19 test, had a forgettable return to the track.

After posting the 13th quickest lap in first free practice, his Aston Martin lost power and ground to a halt 15 minutes before the end of the session, with smoke billowing out of the rear.

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