Max Verstappen Dominates Second Practice at Mexico Grand Prix
Max Verstappen delivered a strong performance in the second practice session for the Mexico Grand Prix, showcasing the capabilities of Red Bull’s updated Formula 1 car. The reigning champion was the fastest driver on the track, while championship leader Oscar Piastri found himself in 12th place.
The first practice session took place on a ‘green’ track, which saw several drivers, including Verstappen, miss out on valuable lap time. However, the second session provided an opportunity for all teams to gather critical data for both qualifying and the race itself.
Verstappen made the most of this chance, testing the new floor of the RB21 with flow-vis paint to collect essential data. This move is unusual for this stage of the season, highlighting the team’s focus on continuous development.
In the opening stages of FP2, Charles Leclerc set the pace, initially clocking a time of 1m18.669s on mediums. He later improved to 1m18.353s, placing him three tenths ahead of the rest of the field. Leclerc then switched to soft tires, setting a 1m17.545s, only to be overtaken by Verstappen, who recorded a 1m17.392s.
Verstappen continued his dominance with a 12-lap run on 12-lap-old mediums, but he expressed frustration with the handling of his car. “It’s terrible, I have no grip, it’s like driving on ice,” he said over the radio.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured third place behind Verstappen and Leclerc, despite experiencing a technical issue that forced him to return to the garage early in the session. Lando Norris, another title contender, faced challenges with “a lot of misfires,” though he still managed to complete 31 laps around the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Lewis Hamilton finished fifth, closely followed by George Russell, Yuki Tsunoda, Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz, and Lance Stroll. The gap between positions two and ten was just 0.4 seconds, indicating tight competition among the top teams.
Alpine had a tough day, with Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly finishing 18th and 20th, respectively. They were 1.3 seconds behind Verstappen and just four tenths away from the next slowest team, Sauber.
Williams’ Alex Albon narrowly avoided a collision when he brushed the wall during a hot lap but still managed to complete the session.
FP2 Results Summary
Here are the key results from the second practice session:
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) – 1m17.392s
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1m17.545s
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 1m17.566s
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1m17.643s
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 1m17.692s
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 1m17.829s
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull Racing) – 1m17.883s
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin Racing) – 1m17.938s
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 1m17.939s
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin Racing) – 1m17.954s
Other notable drivers included:
- Liam Lawson (RB) – 1m18.218s
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1m18.232s
- Esteban Ocon (Haas F1 Team) – 1m18.266s
- Igor Hadjar (RB) – 1m18.281s
- Gabriele Bortoleto (Sauber) – 1m18.323s
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) – 1m18.348s
- Oliver Bearman (Haas F1 Team) – 1m18.442s
- Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – 1m18.721s
- Alex Albon (Williams) – 1m18.855s
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 1m19.194s
The session highlighted the competitive nature of the sport, with teams making crucial adjustments and testing new components as they prepare for the upcoming race. Verstappen’s performance suggests that Red Bull remains a strong contender, while other teams continue to work on their strategies and setups.
