Live: F1 Miami GP commentary and updates - FP2 | Live text

By: Megan White, Haydn Cobb

Summary

Summary:

Verstappen led FP2 for F1's Miami GP
Sainz finished second, with Leclerc third despite a late crash which prompted a red flag
Russell topped FP1 despite missing most of the session with a steering issue

Leaderboard:

Verstappen, Red Bull
Sainz, Ferrari
Leclerc, Ferrari
Perez, Red Bull
Alonso, Aston Martin
Norris, McLaren
Hamilton, Mercedes
Stroll, Aston Martin
Ocon, Alpine
Albon, Williams

Status: Stopped

01:48 With that, we'll call time on our live text coverage of Friday practice in Miami. Final practice begins at 5:30pm BST tomorrow, with qualifying scheduled for 9pm BST. Until then, have a lovely rest of your Friday. Go well!

01:45 Here's the second practice report:

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-miami-gp-verstappen-leads-fp2-as-leclerc-crashes/10465668/

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB19

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

01:38

01:37 After a 1-2 in first practice, it was a slightly underwhelming second session for Mercedes, with Hamilton seventh and Russell 15th.

01:36 Verstappen is the driver to beat once again with a best lap time of 1m27.930s to put him 0.385s up on nearest challenger Sainz. It looked to be a good session for Ferrari until Leclerc found the wall late on.

01:32 But there was still enough time for Sainz to almost trip over both McLarens, while Perez suffered a huge lock-up into Turn 1. So not the cleanest end to the session.

01:30 All those on track get at least one more flying lap in before the chequered flag marks the end of FP2. Verstappen ends it on top from Sainz.

01:28 19 F1 drivers back out on track - no prizes for guessing who is missing.

01:26

01:25 FP2 will restart at 6:26pm local time - in one minute - for four minutes of final action.

01:24 What should be a relief to Ferrari is Leclerc didn't appear to damage its new floor and diffuser in the crash.

01:22 Replays show that Leclerc caught a slide through Turn 7 but locking up his momentum takes him into the barrier. He is out of the car and all OK, but his front-right of the car is wrecked.

01:20 Uh oh! Leclerc has crashed and the red flags are out!

01:20 Ocon and Alonso have a bit of a mini-race fighting for track position in practice which draws the ire of the Spaniard.

01:18 Russell is testing out his donut skills as he runs off at Turn 11 and spins around his Mercedes to rejoin the action.

01:15 So, assuming no glory runs, Verstappen will retain top spot in second practice ahead of both Ferraris. Just as he did in last year's Miami GP.

01:14 What time is it? It is long run o'clock.

01:11 "I think it's three wheeling through the left-hander, Turn 2," Russell reports over team radio. That's not what you want, having had that same experience in a Mini. I'm sure it is the same feeling...

01:07 After a Mercedes 1-2 in first practice, we've not seen much of them in this session. Hamilton is seventh and Russell is 17th - the latter 1.5s off the outright pace.

01:05 Tsunoda the next to lock up, this time both his fronts into Turn 1, to badly flat spot his current set of softs.

01:04 Albon can't get his Williams stopped at Turn 17 so wisely takes to the run-off to spin around and get going again. No harm done.

01:03 "That was a timely placed McLaren," Russell complains over team radio as he drifts wide through Turn 7.

01:02 Sainz is the next to challenge Verstappen's leading effort, but falls just 0.060s short to go second.

01:00 Leclerc gets a clean lap in to slot into second and cut the gap to Verstappen to 0.143s.

00:58 Verstappen goes top again with a 1m28.255s on the softs to give him nearly half a second advantage on the rest.

00:57 Leclerc locks up into Turn 17 which wrecks his promising lap.

00:57 FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer has been down to Red Bull to check on Verstappen after he had a headrest switch having complained about his Hans helmet device.

00:54 McLaren fans will be shouting to stop the count right about now, with Norris leading a team 1-2 ahead of Piastri. Sadly, it may not last with lots of others switching to the soft tyres.

00:51 Norris goes fastest! OK, he is one of the first drivers on the softs, but still. A 1m28.741s gives him bragging rights for now.

00:50 Perez has been shown the black and white flag for crossing the line at pit entry. He'll largely be fine doing that in practice, more of a don't do it again, but in the race he'll be in hot water.

00:49 "Oh my goodness!" Perez says over team radio, as he avoids de Vries going slow and nearly clatters into the outside wall. That could have been very messy.

00:47

00:46 Hamilton, potentially inspired by Big Sam's appointment at Leeds United, goes the direct route over Turn 14 as he clatters his car over the kerbs.

00:44 Unimpressed by not being top dog, Verstappen responds instantly to return to the top of the times with a 1m29.380s.

00:42 Leclerc has gone quickest with a 1m29.497s, 0.106s up on Verstappen.

00:41 How Magnussen didn't have a bigger accident is a minor miracle. Replays show the Dane going through a full 180 at Turns 14 and 15 and only lightly touches the wall on the left-front. That could have been session over.

00:38 A flash of yellow flags briefly causes concern, but nothing too serious to report as Magnussen spins at Turn 14 but is able to continue on.

00:37 All 20 F1 drivers are on track, making the Miami circuit properly busy.

00:35 But here come the Red Bulls, as Verstappen leads a 1-2 from team-mate Perez at the top of the times. The Dutch driver's 1m30.146s puts him six-tenths clear.

00:34 Sainz is the opening pace-setter with a 1m31.787s on the medium tyres.