EL2 at Hockenheim: Verstappen in record mode despite an engine alert

Max Verstappen wins the absolute best time during Free Practice 2 organized this Friday afternoon in the furnace of Hockenheim. His time of 1'13''085 also represents a new lap record on the Baden-Württemberg circuit. Württemberg. The Dutchman, however, experienced an engine alert on his RB14 and was only able to cover 18 laps as a result.

Like this morning, the highest ranked Red Bull ahead of the Silver Arrow by Lewis Hamilton a handful of thousandths, 26 to be precise. His teammate Valtteri Bottas follows closely at 0,105s of the reference time.

The Ferraris will once again have remained in ambush, Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Räikkönen settling for 4th and 5th marks in the afternoon. Maranello can pride itself on the good health of its powertrains since behind its factory single-seaters are the Haas de Romain Grosjean et Kevin Magnussen as well as the Sauber of Charles Leclerc.

Nico Hulkenberg is once again the best representative Renault with 9th place, whileEsteban Ocon, who had left his steering wheel to the Force India reservist Nicholas latifi in the morning, completes the Top 10. The two men are followed by their respective teammates, Sergio Pérez in front Carlos Sainz.

Daniel Ricciardo is only in 13th place but the Australian probably focused his session on preparing for the race given that he was forced to start from the back of the grid due to a penalty for changing engine elements. Further, the Toro Rosso powered by Honda, which will power Red Bull from 2019, do not really seem to be celebrating this weekend: Pierre Gasly et Brendon Hartley occupy the 15th and 16th ranks.

The situation continues to be worrying among McLaren et Williams, the two historic teams occupying the last four positions on the timesheet. Williams has, however, brought major developments to Germany, including a redesigned front wing, as part of a recovery program launched at the start of the season and which is due to end this weekend.

Red Bull concludes this first day of action at the top of the hierarchy. Note that the three big arms of the field share the best sectors: Hamilton is the fastest in S1, Vettel in S2, and Verstappen in S3. Will the Milton Keynes team, which often complains of not having a special qualifying engine mode compared to its German and Italian rivals, be able to confirm these good arrangements on Saturday afternoon?

Before that, the third and free session will take place between noon and 13:00 p.m. The battle for pole position will begin at 15:00 p.m. and will be followed live with commentary on CARhebdo.fr.

Two sessions at the top in a row for @redbullracing #GermanGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/tJVzVkVQd4

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 20, 2018