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RESULT FP2 Austria: Mercedes 1-2 again, Perez 3rd, Red Bull in midfield

3 July 2020 at 15:31
Last update 3 July 2020 at 15:38
  • Matt Gretton
  • Editor-in-Chief

In the second free practice session, it was Mercedes topped the timesheets again. With Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, the German team finished first and second in the last F1 session on Friday as they did in FP1. Meanwhile, Racing Point continued their pre-season form with Sergio Perez in third. Red Bull had no top time on the first day and eventually finished eighth and thirteenth in FP2. 

Romain Grosjean was the first to take to the track in the afternoon. After a disappointing first free practice, where the Frenchman only drove six laps, the team decided to send him straight onto the track. He was also the first to set a time, with a 1.09.788. This time was soon improved by Carlos Sainz, who went a second faster. 

Fastest times

After half an hour of practice, it was Lewis Hamilton who with a 1.05.095, had the fastest time to his name. Max Verstappen followed him at two-tenths. Behind him was Lance Stroll in third place after half an hour. What is especially striking is that the first six places consist of three teams, but without Ferrari. Mercedes, Red Bull Racing and Racing Point.

Kimi Raikkonen was the first driver to discover the gravel trap. In turn six he shot off. Verstappen also shot off in the same corner. Both drivers managed to get back on the track via the service roads. So both could continue without damage. The last three-quarters of an hour were dominated by long runs and so there were not many fast times.

Mercedes with problems, but at the top

It was especially important to get to know the car and the behaviour of the car. Grosjean reported having trouble with the car over the radio and Alex Albon even spun, indicating that the Red Bull is a bit restless at the rear. At the top of the times, it was mainly Mercedes who took the lead. With the German team in the first two places and Perez's "Pink Mercedes" in third place, it was clear which team had everything in order.

Towards the end of practice, Bottas said that he is experiencing gear shifting problems. In response, the Mercedes driver had to enter the pits. In the end, there were not many drivers who really stood aside with mechanical problems or were forced to enter the pits. Besides a few spins on the track, it was a very clean free practice session.

Final results

Hamilton eventually finished first with a 1.04.304. Bottas was second to two tenths behind. After Perez follow Vettel, Ricciardo and Norris who complete the top six. The rest of the top ten includes Stroll, Verstappen Leclerc and Sainz. Albon eventually drove to thirteenth place, two tenths away from his Dutch teammate. Tomorrow we will really see how the relations between the teams are because then we will see the fast times during the third free practice and qualifying.