Max fifth in FP2: "The car is working well"

Published on 09 June 2017 by Stefan Meens

After P7 in the first free practice session of the Canadian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen finished fifth in FP2, despite his RB13 coming to a stand still twenty minutes before the end of the session. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) was quickest, followed by Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and the Finn’s team mate Sebastian Vettel.

“I’m not sure what the problem was, we need to investigate”, explained Max after his running in FP2 was cut short. “Before we had the issue, we were going well. We can be happy with that as it is usually a difficult track for us. The car is working well with all the new updates.”

Nevertheless, Max remains realistic about closing the gap to the front runners. “It’s been this way since the start of the season so our situation won’t change overnight. We’re fighthing for fifth and sixth and we’ll try to make the most of it.”

The opening stages of FP1 are marked by most drivers heading out on the super-soft Pirellis. The track is getting faster and faster and the times set in the morning are quickly eclipsed.

After half an hour, the lap times really start to tumble as the drivers are running the ultra-soft compound. Regardless, it is the Ferraris and Mercedes setting the pace; a repeat of FP1.

Similar to FP1, there is plenty of yellow flags as drivers look for the limit and occasionally cross it. As in the morning session, everyone escapes without damage. But it was not for lack of trying with Romain Grosjean spinning three times.

With twenty minutes to go Max’s session ends prematurely. The Red Bull Racing driver parks his car in turn 7 with an unknown issue. It marks the end of the youngster’s running in FP2 after completing 25 laps of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Canadian Grand Prix - Circuit Gilles Villeneuve - Friday 9 June

FREE PRACTICE 2 RESULTS

01  7 Kimi Räikkönen      Ferrari                     1:12.935          41
02 44 Lewis Hamilton      Mercedes                    1:13.150 +0.215s  41
03  5 Sebastian Vettel    Ferrari                     1:13.200 +0.265s  41
04 77 Valtteri Bottas     Mercedes                    1:13.310 +0.375s  42
05 33 Max Verstappen      Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer   1:13.388 +0.453s  25
06 19 Felipe Massa        Williams Mercedes           1:14.063 +1.128s  38
07 14 Fernando Alonso     McLaren Honda               1:14.245 +1.310s  19
08 31 Esteban Ocon        Force India Mercedes        1:14.299 +1.364s  46
09 26 Daniil Kvyat        Toro Rosso                  1:14.461 +1.526s  38
10 11 Sergio Perez        Force India Mercedes        1:14.501 +1.566s  41
11  8 Romain Grosjean     Haas Ferrari                1:14.566 +1.631s  33
12 27 Nico Hulkenberg     Renault                     1:14.604 +1.669s  38
13 55 Carlos Sainz        Toro Rosso                  1:14.621 +1.686s  43
14 20 Kevin Magnussen     Haas Ferrari                1:14.676 +1.741s  35
15  3 Daniel Ricciardo    Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer   1:15.072 +2.137s  8
16 30 Jolyon Palmer       Renault                     1:15.127 +2.192s  40
17 18 Lance Stroll        Williams Mercedes           1:15.240 +2.305s  40
18  9 Marcus Ericsson     Sauber Ferrari              1:15.611 +2.676s  31
19  2 Stoffel Vandoorne   McLaren Honda               1:15.624 +2.689s  20
20 94 Pascal Wehrlein     Sauber Ferrari              1:16.308 +3.373s  31

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