At least 26 laps, with 2 qualifying stints and 2 long runs. This is the framework with the program requested by Pirelli for the 2023 tire tests in FP2 in Austin. An intense programme, with a 90-minute session, to test the prototypes of the 2023 compounds and beyond. Consequence of a busy schedule, which does not allow additional days to do these tests. A different session, blind for teams and drivers, but in which we saw for the first time the cars take to the track under similar load conditions, dictated by Pirelli. Which usually doesn't happen as each team decides its own schedule. However, not knowing the compounds it is impossible to talk about performance.
An abnormal session
There is however one exception. The 5 pilots that in the FP1 have given the single-seaters to rookies, or would-be rookies, they were able to recover the program lost in the first session. Leclerc, Ricciardo, Latifi, Bottas and Magnussen had 35 minutes to use with sets of 2022 tires to prepare for the race weekend. Moving on only afterwards to the program of 7/8 lap runs with different compounds. Not a small advantage if you consider that teams like Red Bull and Mercedes only had data from one session available. The 3 fastest riders were just some of the 5 who hadn't lapped in the first session. Of these 5, however, Latifi and Magnussen took to the track only to complete the program with the prototypes.
FP2 in Austin end with the best time by Charles Leclerc with middle school, followed by Valtteri Bottas e Daniel Ricciardo, with the soft 2022. We remind you that the Monegasque, even if it hasn't been official yet, will mount a new power unit over the weekend which will lead him to take a penalty on the grid on Sunday. Same fate for Perez and Zhou, with changes already made official. In command in the group of "prototypes" there is another Ferrari, that of Carlos Sainz followed by Mick Schumacher, Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.
Mercedes illegal wing?
While the meeting was consummated between Christian Horner-Ben Sulayem to clarify the Budget Cap issue that Red Bull stumbled upon, the paddock returned to talking about Mercedes and illegal wings, almost as a level playing field.
La Mercedes took to the track with some news at the bottom but was unable to use the entire package provided for Austin. The front wing brought by Mercedes with some interesting flow diverters it has vanished like a cloud of dust and will not be used over the course of the weekend. The specific it was indeed judged “not compliant with regulations”, due to the five carbon supports transformed into flow diverters. A thriller that began with rumors about a single specific wing - for the entire weekend - brought to the track, and then ended with the solution of the mystery: the FIA deemed it illegal. A hitch that could jeopardize the hunt for the first victory of the season for the star team.
