Alonso fastest in rainy second practice at Australian Grand Prix

Melbourne, The Gulf Observer: Fernando Alonso topped the timesheets for Aston Martin in a rain-hit second free practice at the Australian Grand Prix on Friday after Formula One champion Max Verstappen was quickest in the dry first session.

Alonso was quick to post a lap of one minute and 18.887 seconds on medium tyres before the rain came and finished nearly half a second clear of Ferrari’s second fastest Charles Leclerc, reports Reuters.

Red Bull’s Verstappen was third quickest ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell but caution took priority over pace and the conditions allowed for little meaningful running.

Lewis Hamilton, second fastest in the first session, posted only the 13th fastest lap in the second and spent much of it in the garage as engineers tinkered with his car.

Verstappen earlier topped an eventful first session (FP1) under blue skies, lapping in one minute, 18.790 seconds, nearly half a second quicker than Hamilton.