Leclerc puts team-mate Hamilton in shade at Australian Grand Prix practice session

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc powered to the quickest time ahead of Oscar Piastri in second practice at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Friday, with Lewis Hamilton fifth and Max Verstappen only seventh.

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Leclerc outshone new team-mate Hamilton with a best lap round Melbourne's Albert Park circuit of one minute 16.439 seconds on soft tyres, 0.124 clear of McLaren's Piastri.

Monaco's Leclerc set the pace with 25 minutes to go and no one could catch him, with the other McLaren of Lando Norris third ahead of surprise-package Yuki Tsunoda in an RB.

"It's too early to come to any conclusions," said Leclerc.

"We will only get a first idea of the respective pace of all the teams in qualifying.

"All in all, it was a good day and we look forward to tomorrow, when we want to target pole position."

Seven-time world champion Hamilton was fifth as he gradually adjusts to life in a new car after his shock move to Ferrari from Mercedes after 12 years.

The Briton cautioned this week that everything at Scuderia was different and there could be a transition period while he settles in.

He was better than in the first practice, where he came 12th, but still 0.420 seconds behind his team-mate.