Jenson Button quickest in second practice

While rain prevented any improvements on lap time in the final minutes, Jenson Button retained his timesheet-topping place from team-mate Lewis Hamilton as Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari and the pair of Red Bull cars completed the top five.

Australian Formula One fans, already delighted to finally see the 2011 season kick off two weeks late this afternoon, were thrilled yet further when Mark Webber led the way by three tenths of a second from Sebastian Vettel in the opening 90 minutes. However, following a two and a half hour break, it was McLaren – with revised exhausts since pre-season testing – who set the leading pace.

Temperatures remained very much the same from earlier in the afternoon, with respective ambient and track readings of 16 and 20°C (61 and 68°F) as light drops of rain fell while the green pit exit light illuminated.

Second practice results