FP2 just finished and from what it seems McLaren still has the upper hand, and no one can stop them.
Charles Leclerc started the FP2 by blocking the front-left tyre between turn 9 and turn 10, a really difficult braking point well known by the drivers. Both Ferraris started on mediums. McLaren instead decided to put on the hard tyres. Norris also had a blockage in Leclerc’s same point. He also stopped at the boxes for a minute or two for problems with head protections. After some short-run pace simulations most of the teams started quali simulations, starting with George Russell who did a 1.31.945.
Hamilton responded to this lap with a 1.31.915. and Leclerc did a 1.31.729. However Albon soon after did a 1.31.696. and Max Verstappen did a 1.31.330. Mclaren however did say his word about it and knocked everyone off with a 1.30.659. done by Norris and a 1.30.505 done by Piastri. Seems like the papaya team is dominant in the second sector, having a very stable car with a lot of downforce. However Ferrari took here a new bottom of the car, that gives the car more downforce but doesn’t help with the problem with height sensitivity that Ferrari has, as Sky Sport Journalist Matteo Bobbi said during the practice. Max complained about his brakes, that doesn’t help to decelerate the car well, from what he says in his team radios.
The last part of the free practice was dedicated to race pace, showing a very good pace by McLaren, which seems a very balanced car, and also by Mercedes, which always stays behind the orange team.
Free practice ended with a total dominance from Mclaren as Piastri and Norris ended respectively in P1 and P2. Good work for Mercedes which finished P3 with Russell and P5 with Antonelli, who paid a 2 tenths gap from his teammate, which is very little for a rookie. Ferrari still presents some difficulties as they finished P4 for Charles and P8 for Hamilton. Also Red Bull trudged as they finished P7 with Max and P18 with Tsunoda. From these results it seems like we are going through a new 2023 season, with a Mclaren dominating every track ‘till now. Will someone stop them this weekend as Max did last weekend? We will find out tomorrow.
