McLaren defied their Formula One pre-season form to jump their rivals in practice for this Sunday's Australian Grand Prix.
Written off as a force after a difficult period of unreliability during trials in Spain recently, McLaren warned early this week they had found extra pace at the last minute.
And it proved not to be a bluff as the team's drivers - former world champions Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton - led the time sheets during the second practice session. Button topped the standings with a lap of 1minute 25.854seconds, pipping Hamilton by one tenth of a second.
Ferrari confirmed their test pace when Fernando Alonso wedged himself between the McLarens and the Red Bulls to seize third spot. World champion Sebastien Vettel was also just a little off a tenth of a second away in fourth, marginally ahead of teammate Mark Webber.
Webber had topped the first session with a late blast which made him the only driver to dip under the 1minute 27second mark.
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Seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher brought hope to Mercedes and recalled memories of his peak when he led the second session for 20 minutes before being reeled in.
But the 42-year-old German still managed to finish a respectable sixth and was considerably quicker than his much younger teammate Nico Rosberg.
Brazilian Felipe Massa, the second Ferrari driver, finished seventh fastest but fresh-faced Mexican rookie Sergio Perez sprang one of the biggest surprises when he took eighth for Sauber.
The 21-year-old is the first driver from Mexico to race in Formula One since Hector Rebaque drove for Brabham in 1981.
The Hispania Racing Team appear to have made the trip to Melbourne for nothing. Mechanics worked feverishly all day to try to get their cars out onto the track but all they could manage was half a lap by Vitantonio Liuzzi just before the close of the final period.
