Max on P7 in FP2: "Pretty happy"
Published on 01 July 2016 by Stefan Meens
Max Verstappen finished the second free practice session of the Austrian Grand Prix in seventh. The session was interrupted by heavy rain. It meant that for a large part of FP2, no drivers were on track. Nevertheless, it was Mercedes that set the pace when the drivers did lap the Red Bull Ring. Nico Rosberg led his team mate Lewis Hamilton. Nico Hulkenberg completed the top three.
“The speed was there, just like this morning”, said Max after Friday’s running. “I didn’t expect to be this close to the Mercedes”, referring to the seven tenths the Red Bull driver had to concede to the front runners. “Of course I would’ve liked to have more time on track. Because of my issue this morning, I lost a bit of time. Luckily, not too much.”
Max’ morning running was limited after hitting the new kerbstones, which propelled his RB12 into the gravel with a broken front suspension. “I understand we should not cross track limits, but then they should just build a wall. I personally think the kerbs are too high. But of course, I should’ve avoided them. Nevertheless, I’m pretty happy with today. The car feels good and we had good pace so it’s looking good.”
At the beginning of the session, the track is dry. With the exception of Max, all drivers head out for an installation lap. The Dutchman is stuck in the pits while his mechanics work hard to repair to broken front suspension, sustained during FP1.
As Nico Rosberg banks another fastest lap, 1:07.967, Kimi Raikkonen manages to keep his Ferrari running after going off into the gravel traps.
With ten minutes on the clock the Red Bull Ring is hit by heavy rainfall forcing all the drivers to carefully return to pits. After the teams are stuck in the pits for over half an hour, the rain stops and the drivers brave out on track.
Meanwhile, Max’ car is repaired and the Dutchman heads out for his first laps in FP2. Despite a drying track and intermediates, the conditions prove tricky with Max spinning in the final corner. He nevertheless completes a seven lap stint before returning to the pits.
With twenty minutes remaining, Sebastian Vettel is the first to go out on slicks with the rest of field quickly following suit. At the end of session, Vettel beaches his Ferrari in the gravel. As the German brakes into turn 2, the rear of the Ferrari steps out. Remarkably, Vettel keeps his car out of the wall.
At the very front it was once again Nico Rosberg who was quickest ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Hulkenberg. Max Verstappen finished FP2 in seventh. His team mate Daniel Ricciardo finished fifth.
Austrian Grand Prix - Red Bull Ring - Friday 1 July
RESULTS FREE PRACTICE 2 01 6 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:07.967 25 02 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:07.986 +0.019s 19 03 27 Nico Hulkenberg Force India Mercedes 1:08.580 +0.613s 28 04 5 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1:08.589 +0.622s 25 05 3 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer 1:08.649 +0.682s 30 06 55 Carlos Sainz Toro Rosso Ferrari 1:08.713 +0.746s 32 07 33 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer 1:08.761 +0.794s 20 08 7 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:08.820 +0.853s 23 09 77 Valtteri Bottas Williams Mercedes 1:08.941 +0.974s 24 10 22 Jenson Button McLaren Honda 1:08.994 +1.027s 30 11 14 Fernando Alonso McLaren Honda 1:09.075 +1.108s 26 12 19 Felipe Massa Williams Mercedes 1:09.184 +1.217s 17 13 26 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso Ferrari 1:09.207 +1.240s 26 14 11 Sergio Perez Force India Mercedes 1:09.226 +1.259s 32 15 20 Kevin Magnussen Renault 1:09.525 +1.558s 19 16 30 Jolyon Palmer Renault 1:10.020 +2.053s 23 17 94 Pascal Wehrlein MRT Mercedes 1:10.034 +2.067s 20 18 21 Esteban Gutierrez Haas Ferrari 1:10.138 +2.171s 16 19 9 Marcus Ericsson Sauber Ferrari 1:10.140 +2.173s 19 20 8 Romain Grosjean Haas Ferrari 1:10.400 +2.433s 31 21 12 Felipe Nasr Sauber Ferrari 1:10.444 +2.477s 22 22 88 Rio Haryanto MRT Mercedes 1:11.328 +3.361s 25
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