PRACTICE PULSE: A Tight Race Up Top and Midfield Moments to Watch

Ties directly to the Australian GP venue while teasing the evolving hierarchy.

By Victormustwinteam Last updated Mar 15, 2025 42 0

The 2025 Australian Grand Prix, held at Albert Park in Melbourne from March 14 to 16, marked the season opener with Friday’s practice sessions (FP1 and FP2) drawing significant attention. The sessions, conducted under sunny conditions, provided early insights into team performances, with a focus on single-lap pace, long-run capabilities, and emerging midfield contenders. This note expands on the practice debrief, analyzing the close fight at the front and the impressive showings from two midfield teams, while detailing the pecking order as it begins to take shape.

Session Breakdown and Top Team Performances

The practice sessions on Friday, March 14, 2025, consisted of two one-hour sessions, FP1 starting at 12:30 pm local time and FP2 at 4:00 pm, as per the official schedule. The results highlighted a tight battle at the front, with Ferrari and McLaren emerging as key protagonists.

FP1 Results: Lando Norris of McLaren set the pace with a 1:17.252, 0.149 seconds ahead of Carlos Sainz of Williams at 1:17.401, and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari third at approximately 1:17.461, based on reports indicating he was 0.06 seconds behind Sainz. This session suggested McLaren’s strong start, with Norris leveraging soft tires in the final minutes to secure P1.
FP2 Results: Charles Leclerc reclaimed the top spot for Ferrari with a 1:16.439, 0.124 seconds ahead of Oscar Piastri of McLaren at 1:16.563, and Lando Norris third, though his exact time wasn’t specified in reports, he was noted to be behind Piastri. This session underscored Ferrari’s single-lap pace, with Leclerc’s time being the fastest of the day.

The discrepancy between Ferrari leading in FP2 and McLaren’s claim to being “on top” is clarified by long-run performance data. Analysis from Crash.net indicates that while Leclerc’s single lap was quickest, McLaren’s long-run pace was superior, with Norris averaging 1:21.920 over a nine-lap stint in FP2, closely followed by Mercedes’ George Russell at 1:21.929 over eight laps.

Ferrari’s Leclerc averaged 1:22.002 over seven laps, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was at 1:22.143, suggesting McLaren and Mercedes might have an edge in race simulations.

This long-run data is crucial, as it aligns with pre-season testing in Bahrain, where McLaren showed strong race pace, potentially building on their 2024 constructors’ championship form. The evidence leans toward McLaren being “on top” in terms of race pace, which could be what the user’s data refers to, despite Ferrari’s headline-grabbing single-lap times.

Midfield Teams: Racing Bulls and Williams Shine

The midfield battle was equally compelling, with two teams standing out: Racing Bulls and Williams. These performances add an unexpected layer to the pecking order, highlighting potential dark horses for points scoring.

Racing Bulls: In FP2, Yuki Tsunoda finished 4th, and rookie Isack Hadjar was 6th, a remarkable achievement for a team typically considered midfield. This strong showing, detailed in reports from RacingNews365, suggests Racing Bulls have made significant strides, potentially challenging for Q3 spots in qualifying. Their performance, especially Tsunoda’s, was a surprise, given their historical positioning behind the top teams.
Williams: Carlos Sainz, now with Williams, secured 2nd in FP1 with a 1:17.401, only 0.149 seconds behind Norris, as per PlanetF1 reports. This was a notable result for Williams, especially in Sainz’s debut session with the team, indicating they might have a competitive package for the season. However, their FP2 performance wasn’t as prominent, with Sainz’s exact position unclear, suggesting potential setup adjustments needed.

Other midfield teams like Sauber (Nico Hulkenberg 8th in FP2) and Aston Martin (Lance Stroll 9th in FP2) also had decent showings, but Racing Bulls and Williams’ results were particularly impressive, especially given the context of their usual midfield status.

Pecking Order and Looking Ahead

The current pecking order, based on Friday’s practice, seems to be:

Position	Team	Key Notes
1-2	Ferrari, McLaren	Ferrari led in single laps (Leclerc 1:16.439), McLaren strong in long runs (Norris avg 1:21.920)
3	Mercedes	Competitive long-run pace (Russell avg 1:21.929), potential race threat
4	Red Bull	Verstappen 7th in FP2, long-run avg 1:22.143, may be holding back
5-6	Racing Bulls, Williams	Racing Bulls (Tsunoda 4th, Hadjar 6th FP2), Williams (Sainz 2nd FP1) impressed in midfield

This table reflects the close fight at the front, with Ferrari and McLaren neck-and-neck, and Mercedes and Red Bull slightly behind but still in contention. The midfield, led by Racing Bulls and Williams, adds depth to the competition, potentially shaking up the points battle.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s FP3 and qualifying, the focus will be on fine-tuning setups for both single-lap and race pace, especially with potential weather changes noted in Pirelli’s preview. The battle for pole looks set to be between Ferrari and McLaren, with Mercedes and Red Bull also in the mix, while Racing Bulls and Williams could surprise in the midfield.

In conclusion, Friday’s practice sessions at Albert Park have set the stage for a thrilling Australian Grand Prix, with a close fight at the front and unexpected strength from Racing Bulls and Williams in the midfield, shaping an intriguing pecking order for the season opener.