Karun Chandhok spotted Charles Leclerc do something ‘devastating’ in Australia

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Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc did something ‘devastating’ in practice for the Australian Grand Prix, Sky Sports F1’s Karun Chandhok says.

Leclerc set the fastest time in FP2 at Albert Park, nearly four tenths clear of championship leader Max Verstappen.

And speaking during Sky F1’s coverage of the session, Chandhok spotted an ominous sign for the Scuderia’s rivals.

Leclerc has qualified on the front row for both races so far but hasn’t been able to fight for the win on either occasion.

At round one in Bahrain, he set the fastest qualifying time in Q2 but couldn’t replicate his lap when it counted.

Last time out in Saudi Arabia, he finished just over three tenths shy of Verstappen as he split the Red Bulls.

Sergio Perez was able to get past him in the early stages, and from there he finished in a lonely third place.

Karun Chandhok hails ‘very strong’ Charles Leclerc

Looking over the times in the closing stages of FP2, Chandhok noticed that Leclerc had a commanding advantage through the first sector.

He says the only driver in the same league in that part of the track was Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, and noted that he was a long way clear of teammate Carlos Sainz.

He said: “Leclerc’s first sector time is pretty devastating.

“Three and a half tenths to Sainz in sector one.

“When you look at the best sectors, the only person close to him is Stroll – a tenth away.

“Nobody else – Alonso is the next one down, two and a half tenths nearly.

“So very strong first sector from Leclerc there.”

Can Leclerc and Ferrari win the Australian GP?

There was an air of confidence about Ferrari as they arrived in the paddock for this weekend’s race.

That was despite the fact that they had finished a long way adrift of Red Bull at the first two events.

Leclerc was more than 18 seconds behind Verstappen at the chequered flag in Saudi Arabia, while third-place Sainz was 25 seconds back in Bahrain.

However, F1TV journalist Lawrence Baretto says Ferrari’s simulation data had left them feeling ‘bullish’ coming to Melbourne.

Leclerc predicted after his first podium of the campaign in Jeddah that it was only a matter of time before the Prancing Horse put Red Bull under ‘pressure’.

It’s unclear if Ferrari earmarked this weekend as one where they could challenge for victory.

But team principal Fred Vasseur did say after Bahrain that he expected them to contend for multiple wins.

And McLaren driver Lando Norris felt that they would be especially strong around Albert Park.

Ferrari will be wary that Red Bull have previously reasserted themselves after underwhelming practice performances.

Verstappen didn’t top a single session before taking pole in Bahrain, and Fernando Alonso led the way in FP2 in Jeddah.