Max ends Friday in P19 following problems in FP2

Published on 07 May 2022 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen endured a torrid final Friday practice session at the Miami Grand Prix. After clocking the third fastest time in the FP1, the Dutchmen ended the second session in P19 after failing to set a time. George Russell was quickest for Mercedes, ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Oracle Red Bull Racing’s Sergio Perez.

“It was not a good day for us, we wanted to get out there and learn the track and get fully up to speed but things didn’t go to plan. We just had some hydraulic issues, as soon as I went out, I couldn’t really steer and also my breaks were on fire, so there were a few problems. We don’t have a huge amount of information and data for my car which could prove difficult for qualifying and the race, but we will do our best. Of course, I will try to catch up tomorrow, we will work very hard as a team to overcome the issues and hopefully we will be in a good place come qualifying tomorrow.”

At the start of the second Friday practice, the fans have to wait a while before they see Red Bull Racing out on track. Both Max’ and Perez’ cars are being worked on, with the former awaiting a gearbox change on his RB18.

Where Red Bull hope to still complete some laps, the session is over before it even started for Valtteri Bottas. After his FP1 crash, the Alfa Romeo team have not been able to repair the Finn’s car.

Nicolas Latifi (Williams) is the first driver on track and the first to set a time. He is quickly usurped by both Ferraris and Pierre Gasly in the Alpha Tauri. Soon after, Sergio Perez sets the second quickest lap thus far.

Twenty minutes into the session the second red flag of the day is waved following a Carlos Sainz crash. The Spaniard loses control of the his Ferrari F1-75 on turn-in at turn 14, marking the end of his Friday.

With half an hour to go, the session is resumed. Max’ RB18 appears to be ready for action, but when the Dutchman drives the car out of the pitlane, he tells the team that the steering feels heavy. Soon after, he is a called back into the pits. On his in-lap, flames appear from the right rear wheel. Nonetheless, Max manages to get back to the pits but his day’s running is done.

Meanwhile, George Russell has set the fastest time of the session. FP2 is halted once more with twelve minutes to go, when the Williams of Nicolas Latifi has come to a standstill. The red flag is quickly cleared and in the final ten minutes, all drivers, bar Sainz, Latifi, Max, Bottas and Yuki Tsunoda are back on track, with Russell holding on to top spot.

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Results second free practice Miami: