Hamilton fifth in Melbourne with Leclerc fastest

Saturday, 15 March 2025 00:42 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton was fifth fastest for his new Ferrari team as the Formula 1 season began at the Australian Grand Prix.

Hamilton was 0.42 seconds slower than his team-mate Charles Leclerc, who set the pace ahead of the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in Friday practice at Albert Park.

Leclerc was 0.124 seconds ahead of Piastri, who hails from Melbourne and edged Norris by 0.017secs.

Hamilton was slower than Leclerc all day – 0.61secs off as the Ferraris went third and 12th fastest in the first session, and also about 0.1secs down on average on their race-simulation runs late in the second hour’s running.

The seven-time champion complained over the radio that he was struggling to turn the car.

Yuki Tsunoda’s Racing Bull was the midfield interloper in the top order in fourth, and his rookie team-mate Isack Hadjar was in sixth, also ahead of Max Verstappen in the senior Red Bull team.