Max sixth in FP2: "It's looking good"

Published on 28 July 2017 by Stefan Meens

After P6 in the first free practice session of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen again occupied sixth in FP2 at the Hungaroring. Red Bull Racing team mate Daniel Ricciardo showed the potential of the RB13 by, like FP1, topping the leader board in the second Friday session. Sebastian Vettel was the quickest Ferrari in second, followed by Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) in third.

"It’s looking good” said Max afterwards. “I didn’t have the right feeling in the first training, but we changed the car a lot and by the end of FP2, the car felt good. Because of the red flags I wasn’t able to finish all my flying laps, but apart from that it went well.”

Max is therefore optimistic about the remainder of the weekend. “I think we have a good opportunity here. It’s looking better compared to the last races. We still have to improve the car’s balance to be fully happy but the pace is there.”

The Dutchman is expecting a close fight in qualifying. “Hamilton clocked his time on the softs, so he’ll be near the front tomorrow. Mercedes are probably able to get more from their engine in qualifying and they’ll need it. It’s all seems more open than last year so hopefully we can take the fight to them.”

The main talking points of FP2 were the major crashes of Pascal Wehrlein (Sauber) and Jolyon Palmer (Renault). The former lost the rear of his Sauber in turn 11. When the German corrected, the car spun in the opposite direction before slamming into the barrier with the front-right. It then ricocheted into an adjacent barrier, damaging the left-hand side of the car. Wehrlei was able to exit the car unassisted. After a quick visit to the circuit's medical centre for precautionary checks, he was given the all-clear.

Jolyon Palmer’s crash was a continuation of his dire weekend thus far – the Renault driver also crashed in the closing stages of the first practice session. His FP2 crash occurred when the rear of his Renault stepped out at Turn 14. As Palmer corrected, the car lurched the other way and sent him sliding into the barriers.

Apart from the two crashes, the session followed the usual pattern of the season with Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull Racing the top three teams. The positive surprise is that it is Red Bull Racing setting the pace with Daniel Ricciardo.

Hungarian Grand Prix - Hungaroring - Friday 28 July

FREE PRACTICE 2 RESULTS

01  3 Daniel Ricciardo    Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer   1:18.455          32
02  5 Sebastian Vettel    Ferrari                     1:18.638 +0.183s  28
03 77 Valtteri Bottas     Mercedes                    1:18.656 +0.201s  33
04  7 Kimi Räikkönen      Ferrari                     1:18.755 +0.300s  28
05 44 Lewis Hamilton      Mercedes                    1:18.779 +0.324s  31
06 33 Max Verstappen      Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer   1:18.951 +0.496s  25
07 27 Nico Hulkenberg     Renault                     1:19.714 +1.259s  33
08 14 Fernando Alonso     McLaren Honda               1:19.815 +1.360s  31
09 55 Carlos Sainz        Toro Rosso                  1:19.834 +1.379s  35
10  2 Stoffel Vandoorne   McLaren Honda               1:19.909 +1.454s  18
11 31 Esteban Ocon        Force India Mercedes        1:20.126 +1.671s  34
12 11 Sergio Perez        Force India Mercedes        1:20.266 +1.811s  33
13 26 Daniil Kvyat        Toro Rosso                  1:20.577 +2.122s  37
14 18 Lance Stroll        Williams Mercedes           1:20.791 +2.336s  31
15 19 Felipe Massa        Williams Mercedes           1:20.869 +2.414s  22
16 30 Jolyon Palmer       Renault                     1:21.175 +2.720s  12
17 20 Kevin Magnussen     Haas Ferrari                1:21.345 +2.890s  11
18  8 Romain Grosjean     Haas Ferrari                1:21.504 +3.049s  25
19  9 Marcus Ericsson     Sauber Ferrari              1:21.559 +3.104s  31
20 94 Pascal Wehrlein     Sauber Ferrari              1:21.722 +3.267s  16

Hungarian GP contest: win an orange Max Verstappen driver cap & orange VER flag!