F1 RESULT: Fernando Alonso fastest in FP2 at Australia Grand Prix, fantasy picks and schedule times in UK

Championship leader Max Verstappen set the pace from Lewis Hamilton in the earlier dry running at Melbourne’s Albert Park. But it was Alonso who ended the day on top after he went fastest in his Aston Martin before heavy rain arrived 10 minutes into the one-hour session.

The double world champion, 41, who completed only 13 laps, finished four tenths clear of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Verstappen was third, six tenths back, with George Russell fourth for Mercedes. Hamilton finished 13th, 1.4sec adrift, after he failed to post a clean lap with the slick rubber.

Earlier, the opening running of the weekend was red-flagged on two occasions, firstly when the GPS systems went down at the temporary track and then in the closing minutes as Logan Sargeant broke down in his Williams.

“FP2 was a bit frustrating for everyone. Reasonable session for us – made a step from FP1. Let’s see what tomorrow brings – I know there’s a bit of rain around tomorrow so we’d be happy to see it spice up.

“We made a lot of setup changes over the break, getting the car into a nice window as the weekend progresses. We need to see how it translates tomorrow, FP1 I wasn’t very happy but FP2 much happier.

“The third row, between P5 and P8, is where we’re looking at the moment. Not where we want to be, I know we’ve got more to come in a couple of races. But got to maximise the weekend.”

“This morning was good, this afternoon wasn’t so good!

“This morning felt a little bit better, made some changes didn’t work. So we’ll revise them tonight.

“You don’t learn a lot when the conditions are in between, just keep the car safe.

“Traffic is always an issue here, more so in P1, people just going super slow on the racing line. Hopefully that won’t happen again.

“We won’t be competing against the Red Bulls – just about trying to compete as high as possible, fifth if possible – same as the last race.”

So that’s it for all the running on Friday!

Fernando Alonso was quickest in second practice after setting the fastest time in dry conditions in the first 15 minutes before the rain came. Charles Leclerc was second, four-tenths off, with Max Verstappen third.

Here’s the full classification from FP2!

1-10: Alonso, Leclerc, Verstappen, Russell, Sainz, Ocon, Perez, Norris, Hulkenberg, Gasly

11-20: Tsunoda, Bottas, Hamilton, Piasti, Zhou, Stroll, De Vries, Albon, Magnussen, Sargeant (no time)

Lewis Hamilton among the runners out now on intermediates, as second practice draws to a close!

The top of the standings will not be changing, given the times on the board were done in dry conditions.

1-10: Alonso, Leclerc, Verstappen, Russell, Sainz, Ocon, Perez, Norris, Hulkenberg, Gasly

Very wet out on track now, with about half-the-pack trialling intermediates.

If you needed any evidence…

The likes of George Russell, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc have all tested the conditions out in Melbourne, but with the light rain relatively steady, the Ferraris in particular aren’t keen to run like this.

“There is no point driving in this,” Leclerc says.

Leclerc not happy with his Ferrari pit wall? Surely not!

Fernando Alonso has gone fastest after 15 minutes, with Charles Leclerc four-tenths back and Max Verstappen six-tenths back in third.

4-10: Russell, Sainz, Ocon, Perez, Norris, Hulkenberg, Gasly. Lewis Hamilton down in 13th – just as the rain starts to fall in Melbourne!

“Mate, I don’t know he’s on a lap,” Verstappen exclaims, as an Alfa Romeo comes storming through! Is there more GPS issues, similar to FP1?!

After an early rush of cars, many of them have now gone back into the garage with a few raindrops falling…

Hamilton was four tenths back from the Red Bull driver, with Sergio Perez third. Fernando Alonso finished fourth for Aston Martin.

The opening running of the weekend at Melbourne’s Albert Park was red-flagged on two occasions, firstly when the GPS systems went down at the temporary track, and then in the closing minutes as Logan Sargeant broke down in his Williams.

Sargeant’s mechanical failure arrived just minutes after Verstappen survived a spin at Turn 4.

The championship leader, who earlier took an unscheduled trip across the gravel, rode the kerb on the exit of the left-hander before pirouetting in his Red Bull in a plume of tyre smoke.

We’re now underway with second practice at Albert Park in Melbourne!

Max Verstappen was quickest by nearly half-a-second in FP1, with Lewis Hamilton in a now-unusual second place for Mercedes!

Who will impress in FP2? There’s a fair amount of cloud cover and wind in Melbourne for this session..