Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was untouchable through the second practice session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, but his car ended the session on the back of a tow truck.
Max Verstappen led the way right throughout the ninety minute practice session at the Mexican circuit. With track temperatures significantly higher than the morning session, around 45 degrees celsius, tyres were very much the focus of attention in FP2. Grip was a big problem, with plenty of sideways moments, brake lock-ups and off-track excursions for plenty of drivers. However, Verstappen was in command throughout as the Red Bull didn’t appear to be struggling to the same extent as the likes of the Ferraris and the Mercedes drivers.
Verstappen’s best time of 1:16.720 was set on the HyperSoft tyre, some 0.153 clear of his teammate Daniel Ricciardo. Interestingly, tyres didn’t seem to be the only differentiator for the Red Bull boys, as Renault were also very strong. Carlos Sainz finished the session in P3, 1.2 seconds down on Verstappen but just ahead of the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel by just a single thousandth. Nico Hulkenberg finished in P5, meaning four of the top five cars were Renault powered – their power deficit down the main straight clearly negated by the higher altitude of the Mexican circuit.
Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix – Free Practice 2 Results
1. Max Verstappen NED Aston Martin Red Bull Racing 1m16.720s
2. Daniel Ricciardo AUS Aston Martin Red Bull Racing + 0.153s
3. Carlos Sainz Jr. ESP Renault Sport Formula One Team + 1.233s
4. Sebastian Vettel GER Scuderia Ferrari + 1.234s
5. Nico Hulkenberg GER Renault Sport Formula One Team + 1.326s
6. Brendon Hartley NZL Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda + 1.341s
7. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport + 1.380s
8. Kimi Raikkonen FIN Scuderia Ferrari + 1.413s
9. Valtteri Bottas FIN Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport + 1.420s
10. Sergio Perez MEX Racing Point Force India F1 Team + 1.447s
11. Esteban Ocon FRA Racing Point Force India F1 Team + 1.765s
12. Romain Grosjean FRA Haas F1 Team + 2.013s
13. Charles Leclerc MON Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team + 2.304s
14. Pierre Gasly FRA Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda + 2.327s
15. Stoffel Vandoorne BEL McLaren F1 Team + 2.376s
16. Lance Stroll CAN Williams Martini Racing + 2.499s
17. Marcus Ericsson SWE Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team + 2.602s
18. Sergey Sirotkin RUS Williams Martini Racing + 2.615s
19. Fernando Alonso ESP McLaren F1 Team + 2.823s
20. Kevin Magnussen DEN Haas F1 Team + 2.950s
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