2023-10-28 18:34:00
After a first day entirely dominated by Max Verstappen, the second day of the Mexican Grand Prix began with the third free practice session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. The sun was out following slightly unpredictable weather during FP2.
Charles Leclerc immediately took the lead in the session with soft tires in 1’19″283, and Carlos Sainz was one tenth behind his teammate. Yuki Tsunoda took provisional third place despite a slip in the Foro Sol.
Lando Norris took the third fastest time before Lewis Hamilton took the lead in 1’19″214. Both drivers were also on soft tires, as was George Russell, who set the best time in 1’18″644.
Pierre Gasly spun just before entering the stadium, and Yuki Tsunoda went wide at the same place, not without almost losing control of his car in the long, fast sequence of the second sector.
Oscar Piastri complained regarding the balance of his car. The Red Bull drivers then took to the track on soft tires, following more than 20 minutes of session. Sergio Pérez set the fourth time, and Max Verstappen the second, less than a tenth from Russell.
Logan Sargeant and Alex Albon placed sixth and eighth, once once more confirming the good pace of the Williams on this track. Daniel Ricciardo took the fourth fastest time on medium tires, also confirming his solid sixth place from the day before.
Pérez took the third time, and Verstappen improved to 1’18″429. Still on mediums, Ricciardo accelerated and took the fourth time. Sargeant then took the third position, and Albon put the Williams in the lead in 1′ 17″957!
Valtteri Bottas set the third time on soft tires, and Lando Norris set the fourth time. Oscar Piastri missed the Foro Sol but was in the lead before the third sector. He finally set the tenth time. Russell was second and Hamilton sixth, while Ricciardo moved up to seventh.
Verstappen finally regained the lead around ten minutes from the end of the session, not without experiencing traffic. The Dutchman set a time of 1’17″887, only 0″070 better than Albon, and Pérez was positioned third. Leclerc aborted his fast lap due to traffic, and Sainz went off track.
Verstappen concluded the session in the lead, giving him 100% dominance before qualifying. Albon is an excellent second ahead of Pérez, Russell and Piastri, who came back at the end of the session. Bottas is sixth ahead of Yuki Tsunoda, Norris, Ricciardo and Hamilton.
Sargeant is 11th ahead of Zhou and Leclerc, Ferrari not having managed a fast lap at the end of the session, Sainz is two places behind his teammate. The Alpine drivers are 18th and 20th.
Pos.PiloteVoitureTempsTours 01 Max Verstappen Red Bull Honda RBPT RB19 1:17.887 19 02 Alex Albon Williams Mercedes FW45 1:17.957 19 03 Sergio Pérez Red Bull Honda RBPT RB19 1:18.026 19 04 George Russell Mercedes W14 1:18.248 20 05 Oscar Piastri McLaren Mercedes MCL60 1:18.392 22 06 Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo Ferrari C43 1:18.437 26 07 Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri Honda RBPT AT04 1:18.450 26 08 Lando Norris McLaren Mercedes MCL60 1:18.480 21 09 Daniel Ricciardo AlphaTauri Honda RBPT AT04 1:18.499 15 1 0 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes W14 1:18.522 21 11 Logan Sargeant Williams Mercedes FW45 1:18.718 15 12 Guanyu Zhou Alfa Romeo Ferrari C43 1:18.917 21 13 Charles Leclerc Ferrari SF-23 1:18.970 22 14 Lance Stroll Aston Martin Mercedes AMR23 1:19.094 21 15 Carlos Sainz Ferrari SF-23 1:19.293 23 16 Nico Hülkenberg Haas Ferrari VF-23 1:19.320 18 17 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin Mercedes AMR23 1:19.471 21 18 Pierre Gasly Alpine Renault A523 1:19.509 19 19 Kevin Magnussen Haas Ferrari VF-23 1:19.573 9 20 Esteban Ocon Alpine Renault A523 1:19.839 19
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#Formula #Mexico #EL3 #Verstappen #continues #Albon #surprises #2nd #place
