P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Charles Leclerc topped Friday practice for the Australian Grand Prix, nearly four-tenths clear of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Helmut Marko believes the gap between Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen in Australian Grand Prix practice is due to the use of engine modes. Leclerc set the top time in the second session in Melbourne, clocking a 1:17.277s lap in qualifying simulations, with Verstappen following at 1:17.658s after arriving late due to floor damage. Marko admitted Red Bull still has setup work to do but attributed the 0.381s gap to Ferrari using full power in qualifying simulations. He praised Leclerc’s pace, acknowledging that fine-tuning is needed to match it. Marko emphasized the field getting closer together and encouraged watching F1 videos on YouTube for in-depth coverage.
