P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull left chasing gains after Ferrari’s “very impressive” race runs
“Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets in the second free practice at Albert Park, with a clear 0.381-second lead over championship leader Max Verstappen. Red Bull believes differing engine modes may be affecting single-lap performances, but acknowledges Ferrari’s strong race simulations as a genuine threat. Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko emphasized the need for improvements, noting that Leclerc’s pace requires fine-tuning. Despite Ferrari’s strong showing, Marko suggested that their qualifying simulation was run at full power, not matching Red Bull’s strategy. Verstappen faced challenges in practice due to early repairs from kerb contact, limiting track time for Red Bull to complete their program. While Ferrari appears strong, Verstappen remains confident in Red Bull’s potential, highlighting room for fine-tuning and improvements in performance.”
