Norris Leads McLaren 1-2 in FP2 as Verstappen Faces Towel Trouble
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Lando Norris set the pace for McLaren in the second practice session for the upcoming Grand Prix, clocking a blistering 1m15.624s. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, secured a strong second place, just 0.291 seconds behind, signaling a promising start for the papaya team. The session, however, wasn’t without its unusual moments, most notably involving reigning world champion Max Verstappen.
FP2 Session Highlights
The FP2 session saw a variety of teams showcasing their pace, with Ferrari and Aston Martin also featuring prominently in the top five. Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari managed third fastest, followed by Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso in fourth and fifth respectively. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell of Mercedes rounded out the top seven, indicating a competitive midfield battle.
Verstappen’s Peculiar Pit Stop Issue
In a moment that drew attention and a few chuckles, Max Verstappen encountered an unexpected obstacle during his FP2 run.A towel, accidentally left in his car during a pit stop, necessitated him slowing down on the main straight between Turns 3 and 4 to discard the unwanted item. This unusual incident highlighted the small details that can impact a driver’s session, even for the most seasoned professionals.
FP2 Times
Here’s a look at the full FP2 times:
- Lando Norris (McLaren) 1m15.624s
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.291s
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.399s
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) +0.495s
- fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +0.609s
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +0.705s
- George Russell (Mercedes) +0.793s
- Isack hadjar (Racing Bulls) +0.803s
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) +0.861s
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +0.896s
- ollie Bearman (Haas) +0.943s
- Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) +1.056s
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) +1.080s
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +1.167s
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) +1.188s
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) +1.250s
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Haas) +1.322s
- Alex Albon (Williams) +1.397s
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) +1.419s
- Esteban Ocon (Alpine) +1.535s