Michael Schumacher went two better than his FP1 position to pip Nico Hulkenberg to the quickest time in second practice just as the checkered flag fell on the session.
The German set a time of 1:29.183 in the damp conditions after a heavy shower hit the track just before the session began – with it taking over an hour until drivers could venture out on the slick tyres.
Many of the teams opted not to go out until the end of the session with several of the big players, McLaren, Lotus and Red Bull clearly protecting their cars from possible contact with the barriers, whilst other pushed for quicker times.
Kamui Kobayashi had a spectaular spin coming out of the final corner as he dipped a wheel on the grass, meanwhile several other cars enjoyed off-track excursions thought all managing to avoid the walls.
HRT’s Pedro de la Rosa completed his first installation lap in the F112, but that’s all he could manage.
2012 Australian GP FP2 Results:
| # | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01. | M. Schumacher | Mercedes | 1:29.183 | 16 | |
| 02. | N. Hulkenberg | Force India | 1:29.292 | +0.109 | 19 |
| 03. | S. Perez | Sauber | 1:30.199 | +1.016 | 23 |
| 04. | F. Alonso | Ferrari | 1:30.341 | +1.158 | 13 |
| 05. | K. Kobayashi | Sauber | 1:30.709 | +1.526 | 14 |
| 06. | P. di Resta | Force India | 1:31.466 | +2.283 | 13 |
| 07. | F. Massa | Ferrari | 1:31.505 | +2.322 | 14 |
| 08. | H. Kovalainen | Caterham | 1:31.932 | +2.749 | 16 |
| 09. | N. Rosberg | Mercedes | 1:32.184 | +3.001 | 17 |
| 10. | S. Vettel | Red Bull | 1:32.194 | +3.011 | 19 |
| 11. | M. Webber | Red Bull | 1:32.296 | +3.113 | 20 |
| 12. | T. Glock | Marussia | 1:32.632 | +3.449 | 17 |
| 13. | V. Petrov | Caterham | 1:32.767 | +3.584 | 15 |
| 14. | R. Grosjean | Lotus | 1:32.822 | +3.639 | 11 |
| 15. | J. Button | McLaren | 1:33.039 | +3.856 | 18 |
| 16. | L. Hamilton | McLaren | 1:33.252 | +4.069 | 11 |
| 17. | P. Maldonado | Williams | 1:34.108 | +4.925 | 21 |
| 18. | K. Raikkonen | Lotus | 1:34.275 | +5.092 | 7 |
| 19. | B. Senna | Williams | 1:34.312 | +5.129 | 17 |
| 20. | J. Vergne | Toro Rosso | 1:34.485 | +5.302 | 29 |
| 21. | D. Ricciardo | Toro Rosso | 1:34.604 | +5.421 | 31 |
| 22. | C. Pic | Marussia | 1:34.770 | +5.587 | 13 |
| 23. | N. Karthikeyan | HRT | 1:42.627 | +13.444 | 16 |
| 24. | P. de la Rosa | HRT | 1 |
