STYRIAN GP – Max Verstappen fastest in second practice three tenths ahead of Daniel Ricciardo and Sir Lewis Hamilton
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was fastest in the second practice for the Styrian Grand Prix, the Dutchman was three tenths ahead of his former teammate Daniel Ricciardo. Verstappen looked quick through out the session setting his best lap on the soft tyres while his title rival Sir Lewis Hamilton was fourth three and a half tenths off.
Verstappen’s fastest lap was on the hard tyre, and he edged out the Mercedes early on, while Hamilton showed he had better pace as his fastest time was four-tenths faster if he had kept his car within track limits.
The seven-time champion was fighting to keep his car within track limits at the exit of the fast right-hander, but as he put all four wheels beyond the red-and-white kerb, the time was deleted. Then Verstappen crossed the line putting himself a tenth behind before Hamilton had the time deleted.
Ricciardo put himself second going four hundredths faster than the Alpine of Esteban Ocon, again showing that both teams have the pace to lead the midfield this weekend. Ocon’s teammate Fernando Alonso continued to show the step forwards he had in Le Castellet, the two times champion was fifth just over a tenth behind Hamilton.
The top five were covered by half a second, but the battle between Aston Martin, McLaren and Alpine could be another close one, with about a tenth and a half between them when comparing Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel there was over a tenth between them.
Aston Martin’s Vettel was sixth the four-time champion going almost a tenth faster than his teammate Lance Stroll. They were split by the second McLaren of Lando Norris who was eight-hundredths faster than the Canadian. Sergio Perez was ninth over six and a half tenths off Verstappen.
Antonio Giovinazzi put his Alfa Romeo tenth being the fastest of the Ferrari-powered cars, he was just two-thousandths of a second faster than the works Ferrari of Carlos Sainz. However, the Red Bull Ring was expected to be another circuit where Ferrari had a tougher challenge in the midfield battle.
Sainz also had a spin at Turn Five.
Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas was twelfth fastest, but was on a different run plan. He is also under investigation by the stewards after sliding on the throttle through the McLaren pit box, McLaren complaining that the incident was “absolutely ridiculous” and saying that he “could have taken out our guys there”.
Charles Leclerc was thirteenth fastest, the Monacan reporting that on his best lap he had struggled on the soft tyre. Kimi Raikkonen was fourteenth ahead of Yuki Tsunoda who was a tenth and three quarters behind the Finn.
George Russell was sixteenth going two tenths faster than the two Haas’s with Mick Schumacher two tenths faster than Nikita Mazepin, Nicolas Latifi was nineteen three tenths behind the Haas.
Alpha Tauri’s Pierre Gasly missed the entire session after a problem was found with his Honda power unit, which needed to be changed.
Related
- STYRIAN GP – Max Verstappen fastest in FP1 with Sir Lewis Hamilton third four-tenths off
- F1 Today – Styrian Prixview – 24/06/2021
- Prixview – Styrian & Austrian Grands Prix