Postpublished at 05:34 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2018
Sebastian Vettel improves a tad on his next lap, clocking 1:24.451.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas are out on the ultra-softs.
Image source, Getty ImagesSummary
Hamilton fastest in second practice, but top teams appear close
Rain expected across qualifying and the race
Bottas, Ocon & Alonso all go off track
Postpublished at 05:34 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2018
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 05:33 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2018
Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driverThat's disappointing at this stage. It looked like a clean enough lap for Vettel there too.
Postpublished at 05:33 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2018
It's a 1:24.460 for Sebastian Vettel. That's 0.075s off Lewis Hamilton time.
A bit disappointing for Vettel given it came on the quicker tyre.
Postpublished at 05:30 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2018
One hour remaining and Sebastian Vettel is finally rocking the ultrasofts.
Looks like Ferrari are about to show their hand for the first time as we enter qualifying simulation territory.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 05:29 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2018
Practice so far is following a similar pattern to last season. Lewis Hamilton was fastest in the first session in 2017, six tenths quicker than Valtteri Bottas with the Red Bulls third and fourth quickest. The Mercedes were on the quicker compound of tyre as they were in first practice earlier today.
Hamilton once again dominated second practice, clocking 1:23.620 with Sebastian Vettel second quickest (1:24.167). Vettel went on to win the race.
Postpublished at 05:27 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2018
Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driverDrivers are getting out of shape at Turns 13 & 15 - trying to get on the throttle early.
Image source, bbcLatest timespublished at 05:23 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2018
Image source, F1.comPostpublished at 05:22 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2018
Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driverMax Verstappen is looking very comfortable out there. I think Lewis is not feeling as comfortable, he is a bit slower than he was this morning.
Postpublished at 05:21 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2018
Very good lap by Max Verstappen as he moves to within 0.016 seconds of Lewis Hamilton's time. He's also on the softs whereas Hamilton is on the quicker supersofts.
Image source, Getty ImagesGet involved #bbcf1published at 05:20 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2018
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End of twitter postPostpublished at 05:19 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2018
"Visibility is really hard around this track," says Lewis Hamilton. Evidently not bad enough to prevent him from clocking a personal best as he lowers the benchmark to 1:24.385.
Get involved #bbcf1published at 05:18 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2018
DT: Never change, Fernando.
Postpublished at 05:17 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2018
Fernando Alonso, currently seventh quickest with 1:25.552 on softs, has clearly been impeded by someone on the track.
"Maybe because of the halo people are not looking in their mirrors," he complains.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 05:16 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2018
Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driverEveryone is starting to get a bit more confident, pushing harder.
Postpublished at 05:16 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2018
There's gravel kicking up at Turn 3 as Esteban Ocon runs wide. Valtteri Bottas does likewise soon after as he gets caught up behind Kimi Raikkonen.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 05:14 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2018
Ever changing at the top of the order. Max Verstappen (1:25.064) has a spell up there before Valtteri Bottas goes quickest (1:24.719) and Lewis Hamilton takes top spot (1:24.569).
Bottas' time was on the softs with Hamilton on the supersofts.
Postpublished at 05:11 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2018
The K-Mag's stay at the top of the order doesn't last long as Sebastian Vettel goes a second quicker on softs before Kimi Raikkonen knocks his team-mate down into P2 as the Finn produces a 1:25.566 on the supersofts.
Image source, EPAPostpublished at 05:09 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2018
Kevin Magnussen is the first to cut the timing beam as he does a 1:27.412 on the softs.
Postpublished at 05:06 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2018
Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in MelbourneWatch out for a strong performance from Haas this weekend. The car looked good in pre-season testing, Sergio Perez said they had been a “massive surprise in testing” and Romain Grosjean has always been good around Albert Park - he qualified sixth here last year and finished sixth on Haas’ debut in 2016. “We are cautiously optimistic,” team boss Gunther Steiner said.
There have been grumblings again about the closeness of their relationship with Ferrari - from which Haas buy all the parts the rules permit - and whether they are getting more help than they ought to be. But FIA F1 director Charlie Whiting dismissed these, saying he had none, and no-one had complained. The FIA knew exactly what was going on, Whiting said, and it was all above board.
Postpublished at 05:05 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2018
Kevin Magnussen is the first man out on the track, softs on his Haas. Sebastian Vettel is not far behind.
Image source, EPA