Max third fastest after FP2: 'We tried some set-ups'

Published on 30 July 2021 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen clocked the third quickest time in the second practice session of the Hungarian Grand Prix. Mercedes led the way with Valtteri Bottas fastest, ahead of Lewis Hamilton.

“We tried some set-ups”, said Max after Friday practice. “We wanted to find out what worked and what didn’t. The track is very hot so there are a lot of things to monitor.”

Max continued saying: “There are no big issues that we can’t solve, but it just wasn’t an easy day with these temperatures. We’ll analyse it all.”

 At the start of the session, temperatures are even higher than during the morning with the air temperature reaching 32 degrees.

Max heads out for his first run, five minutes into FP2. His first timed lap grants him second behind Bottas. Both drivers complete their efforts on the medium Pirellis.

At the halfway mark, most drivers have made the switch to the soft compound tyres with the lap times subsequently dropping. Max also uses the softs and sets the third quickest time behind the two Mercedes. Despite improving on his earlier lap times, the Dutchman is not entirely happy: “So much oversteer, it’s unbelievable”, he tells the team.

With twenty minutes to go, most teams opt to focus on long runs in preparation for Sunday’s Grand Prix. It means that the lap times are no longer bettered and the standings remain the same until the end of the session.

In the closing stages, Yuki Tsunoda makes it out in track and manages to complete a couple of laps in his Alpha Tauri. The Japanese rookie had crashed in FP1 and to wait until the end of day before the car was fully repaired.

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Results second free practice Hungary: