Max Verstappen completed a clean sweep of Friday practice at Formula 1’s Mexico City Grand Prix after topping the times once again in FP2.
The three-time World Champion improved upon his time from the first session by 1.1s to clock a 1:18.686s to beat McLaren’s Lando Norris by 0.119s.
After five teams took the opportunity in FP1 to complete one of their two mandatory rookie practice outings, every full-time driver returned for the second session.
Like the opening practice hour, Pirelli’s 2024 prototype tyres were available for the teams to run for the final time before the post-season test in Abu Dhabi.
However, 18 of the 20 runners registered their fastest effort on the Soft compound, indicating that teams turned their attention to the coming race weekend.
Despite the threat of rain lingering from the outset, the scattered showers abated until the end of the day’s action to allow the drivers to conduct representable running.
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) AlphaTauri AT04. 27.10.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 20, Mexican Grand Prix, Mexico City, Mexico, Practice Day.
Ultimately, Verstappen led the way ahead of Norris, with United States Grand Prix polesitter Charles Leclerc winding up third, 0.266s adrift.
Next came Valtteri Bottas in a surprise fourth for Alfa Romeo, nine places and half-a-second ahead of team-mate Zhou Guanyu.
Home favourite Sergio Perez completed the top five in the second Red Bull, albeit three-tenths adrift of team-mate Verstappen.
Daniel Ricciardo backed up his solid run in FP1 by setting the sixth-quickest time for AlphaTauri, as Yuki Tsunoda placed 12th upon his return to the wheel of the AT04.
Both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, who stepped aside for Frederik Vesti earlier in the day, ended up inside the top 10, split by Esteban Ocon and Oscar Piastri.
Having encountered a loss of hydraulic pressure during the opening exchanges of the first session, Carlos Sainz ended Friday down in 11th position.
Meanwhile, Alex Albon was unable to maintain the strong pace he demonstrated to secure second in the first practice hour, plummeting all the way to 14th.
However, the Anglo-Thai racer remained three places ahead of Logan Sargeant in the sister car, with the Williams’ drivers separated by Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly.
It was an even more low-key affair for Aston Martin. Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso resided in 18th and 20th respectively, the latter catching a spin at Turn 9.
The drivers of the two green-liveried AMR23 cars were the only ones not to conduct a low-fuel run on the Soft tyre, with Stroll partially sidelined by a wheel nut issue.
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