FP2: Verstappen and Leclerc dominate second practice in Turkey

F1 Grand Prix, GP Turkey, Istanbul Park

After topping the opening practice for the Turkish Grand Prix, Max Verstappen continued to set the pace in the afternoon session, followed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Drivers were keen to take it to the Intercity Istanbul Park this afternoon after they experienced an unusually low-grip slippery sufrace in the opening session. The track provided so less grip in the morning that several drivers opted against setting any meaningful lap times, including Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Renault racer Daniel Ricciardo.

The situation has improved significantly for the afternoon with drivers finding a better track condition on the track that last played host to a Formula One race in 2011.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc dominated the session with the Dutchman ending up fastest with a time of 1m28.330. The Monegasque was classified second after going four tenths of a second slower than Verstappen. The Ferrari driver was the most diligent driver by notching up 45 laps in total on the relatively long, 5.3km long track.

Mercedes drivers Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton managed to pick up the pace in the afternoon, but they were over half a second behind the pace-setting Verstappen.

Following their strong showing at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, AlphaTauri drivers Daniil Kvyat and Pierre Gasly were once again quick, ending up 6th and 7th fastest respectively. On the contrary, Renault did not manage to find the rhythm on the slippery surface with both Esteban Ocon and Daniel Riccardo failing to get into the top 10.