Max on P1 after first day in Silverstone: 'Quite a good day for us'

Published on 07 July 2023 by Florence Cobben

After Max Verstappen closed the first free practice at the top of the time sheets, he repeated the feat for the second practice session. Carlos Sainz drove his Ferrari into P2, while Alex Albon's Williams again clinched P3. On the Silverstone circuit Max’s Oracle Red Bull Racing teammate, Sergio Perez, and Logan Sargeant in the Williams, closed out the top five.

“I think it was quite a good day for us” Max told the reporters after FP2, “I think it was quite slippery in the beginning, but also I think that is also due to the high pressures we are running on the tires. Ofcourse it's the same for everyone, but that makes it a bit more difficult at the lowest speed, but I think overall the car has been performing really well, so of course we’re really happy with that.”

Max elaborated: “Overall the performance has been pretty strong in both sessions. We could complete our programmes- long runs are good as well. So, pretty positive.” Looking ahead, Max predicted: “Let’s see, tomorrow ofcourse also with the weather, and from our side we want to improve the car a little bit. But overall it’s been a strong day again.”

Since the beginning of FP1 the air and track temperature have risen. Shortly before the start of FP2 it is announced that FP2 is postponed. The Formula 2 qualification ran longer than usual, and so FP2 was delayed. After only 5 minutes wait, it is Nyck de Vries who comes out onto the track first. After two more minutes, only Charles Leclerc, Kevin Magnussen, and Lewis Hamilton are still in the pits.

Max starts on a set of medium tyres and sets the fastest time after a flying lap, almost a half second faster than teammate Perez who is also driving on mediums. Leclerc is still in the pits, dealing with electrical problems.

After 15 minutes, Perez takes first place from Max, and shortly afterwards Sainz jumps to P1. In the pits, Leclerc is seen walking around without his helmet on, indicating it will be a while before audiences can expect to see the Monagasque on the tracks. The circuit quiets down a little as most of the drivers head into the pits for a tyre change.

Fernando Alonso is the first to run a qualification simulation, with little over 40 minutes on the clock. Only Zhou Guanyu is still on the tracks, and Alonso enjoys the benefits of a solitary lap. A little later the Red Bulls also do their first run on soft tyres. After landing no less than three purple sectors, Max jumps once again to P1, almost one second ahead of Sainz’s Ferrari.

Soon afterwards a succession of drivers close in on Max’s time, but in the end it is still Sainz who manages to secure the shortest distance to Max’s Red Bull. Audiences can’t help but notice the high positions the Williams drivers manage to secure and defend - P3 and P5.

After most teams set lap times on soft tyres, slowly the focus switches to running race simulations. At Red Bull Racing, both drivers start their simulations on soft tyres. With around ten minutes on the clock, Max boxes for a set of used medium tyres.

It appears that Leclerc’s Ferrari will not be seen on track after all. During the closing phase of FP2 there are minor changes to the timesheets, and when De Vries gets a flat tyre after FP2 came to an end, the first day at Silverstone concludes.

Contest GP Silverstone: win a by Max Verstappen signed Orange Lion Driver Cap!

Results second free practice Great Britain: