UNITED KINGDOM: Max Verstappen emerged as the fastest driver in an exciting session of FP2 at the British Grand Prix, narrowly edging out Carlos Sainz for the top spot.
The Red Bull driver demonstrated his speed and skill, clocking an impressive time of 1:28.078 on soft tires, leaving the Ferrari driver trailing by a mere 0.022 seconds.
The session experienced a delayed start due to barrier repairs following the Formula 2 qualifying session. However, once underway, the drivers wasted no time in pushing their limits on the iconic Silverstone circuit.
Verstappen and his teammate, Sergio Perez, initially led the way on medium tires. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri also impressed, securing the third-fastest time, benefiting from upgrades introduced on his teammate Lando Norris’ car.
Last year’s race winner, Carlos Sainz, soon displayed his prowess by taking the top spot with a time of 1:29.083, leaving Perez trailing by three-tenths of a second.
However, Verstappen made a strategic move by switching to soft tires for his qualifying simulation run, reclaiming the lead with a time that was a whole second faster than Sainz’s.
Williams continued their impressive performance in FP2, with Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant securing top-five finishes. Albon, who already achieved a P3 finish in FP1, showcased his talent by lapping just two-tenths slower than Verstappen. The Williams team celebrated their success, indicating it was no coincidence.
The session progressed relatively smoothly despite minor setbacks for a few drivers, including Charles Leclerc’s electrical issue and Lance Stroll’s wing mirror problem.
Mercedes faced difficulties finding their rhythm, as George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finished in 12th and 15th places, respectively. The team will need to work on their setup overnight to improve before qualifying.
The session concluded dramatically with Nyck de Vries suffering a puncture and a heavily scratched floor, requiring him to limp back to the pits.
Verstappen maintained his dominance throughout the session, setting the fastest time. However, with more running scheduled for Saturday, the final grid positions for the British Grand Prix are still up for grabs.
Fans can anticipate an exhilarating battle between Verstappen and Sainz, as both drivers showcase their immense skill and determination.
The stage is set for a thrilling qualifying session that will determine the starting positions for Sunday’s highly anticipated race at Silverstone.
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