After Lewis Hamilton set the early pace this weekend in FP1, Formula 1 returned for second practice ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix. When FP1 was about getting acquainted with the Red Bull Ring, FP2 was about conducting long run testing around the circuit in order to calculate tyre wear and strategy options for Sunday’s race.
Lewis Hamilton leads Sebastian Vettel in FP2 in Austria
In second practice, Nico Hulkenberg returned to be back behind the wheel of the lead Renault, with Sergey Sirotkin’s testing duties over this weekend. Sergio Perez also took to the track for the first time this weekend in FP2, with Alfonso Celis Jr stepping down from his development driver role for the remainder of the weekend.
The incidents that filled FP1 continued into FP2 as drivers began to push harder around the circuit in order find the limits of the circuit. Drivers with off track moments included Sergio Perez who spun his Force India in turn 3 and ran through the gravel in turn 5, Carlos Sainz Jr who had an off on the exit of turn 9, and Max Verstappen and Romain Grosjean who both had off track moments in turn 10, taking to the runoff area on the outside of the right hander. Marcus Ericsson, Valtteri Bottas, and Fernando Alonso had very similar offs in the session, skating off the circuit around the corners of turn 6 and turn 7 and skimming through the gravel.
Reliability also played a large part in the session, with Jolyon Palmer having limited running through an engine issue, Fernando Alonso needing a floor change, Lewis Hamilton needing a spark plug change, Carlos Sainz Jr having a leak, Daniil Kvyat having a rear brake fire, and Daniel Ricciardo’s session ending early with a turbo issue for Red Bull Racing.
Despite there being an 80% chance of rain heading into the session, FP2 was entirely dry, and Lewis Hamilton set the pace again for Mercedes with a 1:05.483, 0.492 seconds faster than his FP1 time. Sebastian Vettel ended the session has his rival’s nearest challenger, 0.147 seconds off the pace for Ferrari. Valtteri Bottas ended the session in third fastest, 0.212 seconds slower than his team mate.
Results from Practice 2 of the Austrian Grand Prix:
- Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:05.483
- Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 1:05.630
- Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 1:05.699
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1:05.832
- Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing, 1:05.873
- Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:06.144
- Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1, 1:06.591
- Fernando Alonso, McLaren, 1:06.732
- Nico Hulkenberg, Renault, 1:06.735
- Romain Grosjean, Haas F1, 1:06.763
- Esteban Ocon, Force India, 1:06.849
- Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren, 1:06.859
- Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso, 1:06.906
- Felipe Massa, Williams, 1:07.065
- Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso, 1:07.100
- Lance Stroll, Williams, 1:07.468
- Sergio Perez, Force India, 1:07.509
- Jolyon Palmer, Renault, 1:07.623
- Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber, 1:08.782
- Marcus Ericsson, Sauber, 1:08.870
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