Lance Stroll set the fastest time as a crash for Alex Albon disrupted second practice ahead of the British Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver went off in a big way at Stowe during the qualifying simulations, as the rear snapped around after he corrected an initial slide.
The subsequent red flag meant some drivers didn’t get a clean flying lap in, but that wasn’t the reason for Stroll finishing fastest as the Racing Point showed very strong pace in the very high temperatures at Silverstone.
Albon’s best lap was good enough for second behind the Canadian.
RED FLAG ?
The session is halted as Alex Albon hits the barriers at Stowe ?#BritishGP ?? #F1 pic.twitter.com/e8hYLXisQJ
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 31, 2020
Mercedes’ weakness in hot conditions was again in evidence, with Valtteri Bottas third and Lewis Hamilton fifth.
The world champion in particular struggling for grip on any of the tyre compounds.
Charles Leclerc was between the two W11’s in fourth, though his Ferrari did look quite a handful particularly in the low-speed corners.
Carlos Sainz was sixth for McLaren ahead of the returning Nico Hulkenberg in seventh for Racing Point, as he continued to be six-tenths slower than Stroll.
Pierre Gasly, Daniel Ricciardo and Kimi Raikkonen completed the top 10.
Max Verstappen was one of those who didn’t get a representative flying lap in 14th, this after the Dutchman was infuriated to be held up by Romain Grosjean in the middle of Maggotts and Becketts.
Likewise, Sebastian Vettel, who missed the morning due to an intercooler issue, had more problems in the afternoon with something loose in his pedals.
After not setting a time in FP1, more problems for Sebastian Vettel ?
“There’s something loose” he tells the team over the radio
And then returns to the garage for checks #BritishGP ?? #F1 pic.twitter.com/jlObYRW3RY
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 31, 2020
The result was the German finishing only 18th in the final standings.
When the session ended there was still room for a little more drama as Nicholas Latifi, who was slowest overall, spun at Stowe but was able to recover back on track.
Full results can be seen below:
CLASSIFICATION: END OF FP2
Just nine-hundredths between the top two as Lance Stroll finishes P1 in second practice ⏱️#BritishGP ?? #F1 pic.twitter.com/NGO6AV5iQk
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 31, 2020
