Verstappen Leads FP2 in Upgraded Red Bull as Piastri Struggles in Mexico GP

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Max Verstappen Leads Second Practice at Mexico Grand Prix with New Red Bull Updates

Max Verstappen emerged as the fastest driver in the second practice session for the Mexico Grand Prix, showcasing the potential of Red Bull’s updated Formula 1 challenger. His performance contrasted sharply with that of championship leader Oscar Piastri, who finished in 12th place.

The first practice session was marked by a “green” track, which several drivers, including Verstappen, missed out on. This meant that the second session was crucial for gathering essential data for both qualifying and the race. Verstappen took full advantage of this opportunity to test the RB21’s new floor, using flow-vis paint for data collection—a rare move at this stage of the season.

In the opening moments of FP2, Charles Leclerc set the pace with a time of 1m18.669s on mediums. He later improved to 1m18.353s, putting him about three tenths ahead of his competitors. However, Leclerc then set a faster time on soft tires, clocking in at 1m17.545s. Despite this, Verstappen managed to surpass him by 0.153s, recording a 1m17.392s lap.

Verstappen then embarked on a 12-lap run on 12-lap-old mediums, but he expressed frustration with the handling of his car during the final stages of the run. “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, who was fourth, faced challenges with “a lot of misfires.” Although he had ceded his car to local hero Pato O’Ward in FP1, Norris still completed 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 the second and tenth positions was just 0.4 seconds, highlighting the competitive nature of the session.

For Alpine, the day was particularly tough. Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly ended up in 18th and 20th places, respectively, 1.3 seconds behind Verstappen. They were also four tenths behind the next slowest team, Sauber.

The blue-and-pink cars from Alpine managed to sandwich Williams’ Alex Albon, who brushed the wall when exiting the last corner on a hot lap but still completed the session.

FP2 Results Overview

Here are the key results from the second practice session:

  • Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing): 1'17.392s
  • Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): 1'17.545s (+0.153)
  • Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes): 1'17.566s (+0.174)
  • Lando Norris (McLaren): 1'17.643s (+0.251)
  • Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari): 1'17.692s (+0.300)
  • George Russell (Mercedes): 1'17.829s (+0.437)
  • Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull Racing): 1'17.883s (+0.491)
  • Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin Racing): 1'17.938s (+0.546)
  • Carlos Sainz (Williams): 1'17.939s (+0.547)
  • Lance Stroll (Aston Martin Racing): 1'17.954s (+0.562)

Other notable performances included:

  • Liam Lawson (RB): 1'18.218s (+0.826)
  • Oscar Piastri (McLaren): 1'18.232s (+0.840)
  • Esteban Ocon (Haas F1 Team): 1'18.266s (+0.874)
  • Isack Hadjar (RB): 1'18.281s (+0.889)
  • Gabriele Bortoleto (Sauber): 1'18.323s (+0.931)
  • Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber): 1'18.348s (+0.956)
  • Oliver Bearman (Haas F1 Team): 1'18.442s (+1.050)
  • Franco Colapinto (Alpine): 1'18.721s (+1.329)
  • Alex Albon (Williams): 1'18.855s (+1.463)
  • Pierre Gasly (Alpine): 1'19.194s (+1.802)

Key Takeaways from FP2

  • Max Verstappen demonstrated strong performance with the new updates to the RB21.
  • Charles Leclerc remained consistent, setting fast times on both medium and soft tires.
  • Andrea Kimi Antonelli showed promise despite a technical issue.
  • Lando Norris faced challenges with his car, affecting his overall performance.
  • Lewis Hamilton maintained a strong position, finishing fifth.
  • Alpine struggled significantly, with both drivers finishing well down the order.
  • The session highlighted the close competition among top drivers, with minimal gaps between positions.

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