Max ends Friday in Hungary in P2: 'Not a bad start'

Published on 19 July 2024 by Misha van der Kroon

Max Verstappen has set the second fastest time during the second free practice session for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Lando Norris was two-tenths faster and was the fastest man of the day. Carlos Sainz ended third in the second practice session, which was interrupted for quite some time after Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc spun off the track into the barriers. Sergio Perez and George Russell completed the top five at the Hungaroring.

The team of Oracle Red Bull Racing has brought several updates to Hungary. When asked what he thought of today, Max answers: “We had a good day. Of course, there is still a lot to learn and optimize. But it was a solid start to the weekend. Now we're going to look at the details and try to make it better. FP2 was of course interrupted, so we couldn't do the full long runs that we wanted to do. This was of course the same for everyone. We’ll look into things. It wasn't a bad start a bad start of the weekend. We’ll work from there.”

Just like during the first training, it is sunny and 31 degrees on the Hungaroring. The track temperature is slightly cooler at 48 degrees, but still high. Nico Hulkenberg is in his car again, after he had to give up his seat in the first training to Oliver Bearman, in preparation for his debut season. The German driver immediately wants to make up for the damage, because he is the first man on the track.

In the first training we saw some variation in tyre compounds, but now almost everyone goes out on the mediums. So does Verstappen: his first time is good for sixth position. He is six-tenths slower than Perez, who is currently in P1. The Mexican immediately set a time that was faster than the fastest time in FP1. Verstappen informs his team over the on-board radio that his brakes are not working properly. Max's second fast lap takes him much further than the first attempt: he puts his RB20 on P2, more than a tenth behind his teammate.

Fifteen minutes into the session, Charles Leclerc causes a red flag. The Ferrari driver took too much kerb, spun off the track into the barriers and coming to a stop in the grass. His car gets towed from the circuit, while the barrier gets repair. All drivers wait in their garages for the session to be resumed. After fifteen minutes the track is cleared, and the session continues. A few minutes later, there is a yellow flag briefly in the second sector. It is Guanyu Zhou who goes off in almost the same place as Leclerc. Zhou spins off track and Perez, who was close behind the Chinese driver, just manages to avoid a crash. Zhou keeps his car out of the barrier and can continue driving.

Lando Norris has now put himself in first place with a 1:17.788. Verstappen goes to the second fastest time, more than two-tenths behind the Brit. In the last part of the session, we see little time improvements. Most men have put the mediums under their cars and are busy with their long runs. Norris’ time stays as fastest on the clock, making him the fastest man of the day, followed by Max. Sainz sets the third fastest time, while Perez puts the RB20 in fourth position. Russell completes the top five at the Hungaroring.

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Results second free practice Hungary: