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Sainz goes fastest in FP2 after Mercedes issues continue
With the second Sprint weekend well underway it was Ferrari that topped the timesheets in FP2 to lead their way into the SPrint race later on today. Carlos Sainz just outdoing his teammate to finish P1 with a 1.08.6 to finish the session.
How it unfolded
A sprint weekend can always shake things up on a race weekend but it was usual ordered restored for the top two teams in FP2. After his impressive qualifying performance yesterday, home crowd favorite Max Verstappen led from the start on a set of soft tyres and posted a 1.08.9 early on. Ferrari, opposite to Red Bull, sent both their drivers out on the medium tyres early to gather their long-run pace. Showing early signs that there may be a difference in strategic battle.
But whilst Ferarri and Red Bull were flying, for Mercedes, there were early problems. With both cars crashing out yesterday in Q3, it was an overnight rush to try and get the cars fixed for today's early running. But with 30 minutes gone in the session, neither car had left the garage. But just as things started to look really bad out popped George Russell to calm any nerves. He showed some early signs of pace on the soft but opted to run of the Hards for the rest of the session.
As time drew on though, Ferrari flipped the switch to the faster compound and blew the timesheets away. Carlos Sainz out doing his teammate at the top of the leader board. A 1.08.6 for Sainz with his teammate, Leclerc, just five one thousands off the Spaniard to finish the session.
Plenty to talk about
Alpine supplied us with the biggest surprise of the day as they finished P4 and P5 to put the hand into the mix for the race tomorrow. They were the last team out onto the track today with both drivers waiting till the final 20 minutes to get their running in, but from the off Alonso went straight to P2 only to be beaten by his teammate a few moments later.
But whilst there was joy for others, Mercedes after their brilliant pace last weekend in Silverstone still has work to do. Hamilton with only a couple of laps managed to finish P9 with his teammate staying in P7 after his earlier run but they know that to close the gap in the race tomorrow, today's sprint could be crucial.
Looking ahead
With the morning session over now it's time for the second sprint race of the year. Verstappen will lead them away but who will get on pole for the race tomorrow? Leclerc lines up alongside him but will he go for it?