Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) continues to impress in his season debut, with the Formula 1 veteran (41) setting the fastest time in second free practice for the Australian Grand Prix.

Fernando AlonsoPhoto: BARNI Cristiano/ATP/SPP/Shutterstock Editorial/Profimedia

Fernando Alonso is fastest in the second practice session of the Australian MP

On the track in Albert Park (Melbourne), the Iberian showed a time of 1:18.887 and was ahead of Charles Leclerc (Ferrari, +0.445) and Max Verstappen (RedBull, +0.615).

Despite being second in the first practice (where Max Verstappen set the fastest time), Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) disappointed in the second session and was 13th (+1.436 over Alonso).

>> Formula 1 – Everything you need to know about the Australian Grand Prix: RedBull vs the rest of the world

Australian Grand Prix, free practice results

Australian Grand Prix, schedule

Sunday, April 2

Race: 08:00 (Romanian time)

Saturday, April 1

Qualification / 08:00 – 09:00

Training 3 / 04:30 – 05:30.

Rating of pilots

1 Max Verstappen – RedBull 44 points

2 Sergio Perez – RedBull 43

3 Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin 30

4. Carlos Sainz – Ferrari 20

5 Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes 20

6 George Russell – Mercedes 18

7 Lance Stroll – Aston Martin 8

8 Charles Leclerc – Ferrari 6

9 Pierre Gasly – Alpine 4

10 Esteban Ocon – Alpine 4

11 Valtteri Bottas – Alfa Romeo 4

12 Kevin Magnussen – HAAS 1

13 Alexander Albon – Williams 1

14 Yuki Tsunoda – AlphaTauri 0

15 Nico Hulkenberg – HAAS 0

16 Logan Sargent – Williams 0

17 Zhou Guanyu – Aston Martin 0

18 Nick De Vries – AlphaTauri 0

19 Oscar Piastri – McLaren 0

20 Lando Norris – McLaren 0

Rating of builders

1 RedBull 87 points

2 Aston Martin 38s

3 Mercedes 38

4 Ferrari 26s

5 Alpine 8

6 Alfa Romeo 4

7 HAAS 1

8 Williams 1

9 Alpha Tauri 0

10 McLaren 0.

Formula 1 season calendar for 2023

March 5: Bahrain – victory for Max Verstappen

March 19: Saudi Arabia – victory for Sergio Perez

April 2: Australia / Melbourne

April 16: China / Shanghai

April 30: Azerbaijan / Baku

May 7: Miami

May 21: Emilia-Romagna / Imola

May 28: Monaco

June 4: Spain / Barcelona

June 18: Canada / Montreal

July 2: Austria / Spielberg

July 9: Great Britain / Silverstone

July 23: Hungary / Budapest

July 30: Belgium / Spa-Francorchamps

August 27: Netherlands / Zandvoort

September 3: Italy / Monza

September 17: Singapore / Marina Bay

September 24: Japan / Suzuka

October 8: Qatar / Losail

October 22: USA / Austin

October 29: Mexico / Mexico City

November 5: Brazil / Sao Paulo

November 18: Las Vegas

November 26: Abu Dhabi / Yas Marina.