The second free practice session has also concluded Monaco weekend. In FP2, the heat reigns supreme: 52°C it was indeed the temperature of the track. Ferrari gets on on top with a brace, and Red Bull chases just behind.
The F1-75 is at home in Monaco
With the riders in first and second position – Leclerc first in 1:12.656 e Sainz at 44 thousandths – , the Scuderia gives some hints of confirmation regarding the expectations of its possible supremacy on Monegasque soil; but be careful that the Red Bulls do not sleep. Note how quickly Sainz adapted to the track, remaining close to the partner, a sign of how Spanish is finding a confidence that seemed to be lacking. The car with hollow bellies Seems to fit well with all tyres, and looks like a step ahead both in qualifying simulation and race pace. In the long run in particular, carried out as always in FP2, the single-seater from Modena did a good impression, standing on 1:16.200 with hard rubber. There traction reconfirms a strong point of the F1-75, while braking seems improved compared to FP1, where both pilots had difficulty making some long, particularly at the chicane outside the tunnel. In short, the redhead has high expectations and he cannot disappoint them.
Perez ahead of Max, Red Bull is still chasing
The Mexican it seemed to fit better on this first day of testing in the Principality. He seals the top 3 almost four tenths from the top, while Verstappen follows him less than a tenth. The reigning champion fatigue in corner entry, complaining a understeer which prevents him from gaining confidence in driving. Half of the session was dedicated to the qualifying simulation, and as evidenced by the times table, the Milton Keynes team has yet to find the square; On the other hand, the RB18 is a single-seater more difficult to set up and today is still Friday; therefore, the values in the field are subject to variability. Regarding the race pace simulation, the RB18s are not far from the reds.
Mercedes so-so. Ricciardo puts it on the wall
The W13 continues to struggle, and with the passing of the laps it seems more and more distant from the post-Barcelona hopes: the gap from the summit is seven and a half tenths despite having limited porpoising compared to the FP1. Russell he is the only one to squeeze the most out of the car, placing himself sixth behind a Lando Norris fit only on the performance side, less on the physical one. Hamilton it is even out of the top 10: 12th; English has had a very difficult session since he had to abort five laps in a row due to traffic, to then go long at the Mirabeau causing a yellow flag. Another protagonist of the FP2, for having caused red flag, it was Ricciardo. The Australian lost his car at the first chicane of the pools bumping into the guardrail, closing his race against the barriers of the second variant. The McLaren driver is fine, the car less so. Definitely the start that a driver in difficulty looking for confidence with the track doesn't need.
Fp2, who closes the first half of the standings?
Not bad Alpha Tauri: gasly still ahead of tsunoda – seventh and tenth -. Then Alonso e Hag eighth and ninth. They don't look comfortable either Alfa Romeo, nor Haas, despite the expectations born from good times in the third sector of Barcelona: the Swiss team is 13th and 15th with Bottas in front of; and the USA team is 11th and 17th, with Magnussen once again in front of Schumacher. Albon 14th, Stroll 16th, Or with 18th, Latifs 19th almost two seconds behind his teammate. Last Ricciardo after the crash in turn 15.
The words of Mario Isola
The director of Pirelli Motorsport has given some preliminary indications on Sunday's race, which could be, if dry, ad one stop. The unknown weather is a factor not to be underestimated, the chance of rain one hour before the grand prix is from 70%/80%. With a wet race they would see some good ones. The difference between the compounds, finally, is of five tenths between hard and medium; is 3/4 tenths between medium and soft.
