We are in Spain, home Grand Prix for Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso, many eyes focused on them, certainly those of compatriot fans but above all those of the other teams, with Ferrari and Aston Martin carrying the heralded package of updates. The news of the red are approved by the team afterwards the first session this morning and mounted on both riders for FP2.
Max has no mercy, not even on Fridays...
In this second session of the weekend once again Max Verstappen takes the first time. He himself declares himself "happy with this day", in which nothing went wrong for the Dutchman. The Spanish track is favorable to the characteristics of Red Bull, especially after eliminating the chicane after turn 13. However, this positive trend for the bulls seems to be visible only on Max Verstappen's car. The two-time world champion in FP2 takes first place with a 1.13.907. But what is surprising is Max's long run, a very constant step, as only he seems to be able to do, on 1.19.500. Opposite signals on Perez's car which has a fluctuating pace, slower than Leclerc, on the high 1.20.
It should be remembered that Red Bull, here, also brings updates.
The redheads with the updates bode well…
Updates brought to Spain for the Ferrari, with the aim of making the car more "drivable" give positive signals in FP2. The aerodynamic package completely distorts the physiognomy of the bellies, the bottom and in part that of the mirrors. In this second session, the updates are mounted on both drivers (in the first, only Sainz's car "wore" them). The track talks, the two Ferrari drivers start on the soft tyres, a free practice session reversed from normal, first they look for the flying lap to leave more time for a long run to test the race pace, on which Ferrari always struggles. The race paces of the two are very similar, Sainz's is second only to Verstappen. The two riders of the little horse run on a low 1.20, with Leclerc snatching a 1.19.800. Ferrari improvements grant optimism.
Two different Formula 1s, Max and Charles in comparison…
Impressive to know how far Red Bull is ahead, compared to the telemetry of Verstappen's lap and Leclerc's Ferrari, the difference is remarkable. with a track holding out of the ordinary of Red Bull that allows the drivers to take greater risks, giving up the gas in lower percentages than the red and above all for less time.
Order of arrival of FP2:
Max VERSTAPPEN (Red Bull Racing) 1:13.907
Fernando ALONSO (Aston Martin) +0.170
Nico HULKENBERG (Haas F1 Team) +0.270
Sergio PEREZ (Red Bull Racing) +0.312
Esteban OCON (Alpine) +0.335
Charles LECLERC (Ferrari) +0.339
Carlos SAINZ (Ferrari) +0.367
George RUSSELL (Mercedes) +0.485
Valtteri BOTTAS (Alfa Romeo) +0.541
Pierre GASLY (Alpine) +0.550
Lewis HAMILTON (Mercedes) +0.642
Oscar PIASTRI (McLaren) +0.676
Guanyu ZHOU (Alfa Romeo) +0.678
Lando NORRIS (McLaren) +0.787
Kevin MAGNUSSEN (Haas F1 Team) +0.806
Nyck DE VRIES (AlphaTauri) +0.8785
Yuki TSUNODA (AlphaTauri) +0.933
Lance STROLL (Aston Martin) +1.103
Alexander ALBON (Williams) +1.149
Logan SARGEANT (Williams) +1.508.
Fernando Alonso is excited on his home weekend, he is the first to take to the track and holds the second fastest time at the end of the session. A weekend that is expected to be very promising for the redhead, for Alonso and alas, predictably also for Red Bull.
