F1 Sakhir GP Live Updates - Friday practice

By: Jake Boxall-Legge

Summary


	Russell leads the way in FP2 for the F1 Sakhir GP
	Replacing Hamilton, Russell 0.1s clear of Verstappen on outer-loop circuit
	Perez third from Ocon and Albon
	Bottas has numerous laptimes deleted for track limits
	Driveshaft failure for Leclerc leaves him with no timed run

Status: Stopped

22:12 That's all for today folks. Join us back here tomorrow for more live coverage of the Sakhir Grand Prix.

In the meantime, keep your eyes fixed on Autosport.com for all the latest from the Bahrain paddock.

22:11 Russell completes Friday sweep in FP2, Verstappen second:

F1 Sakhir GP: Russell completes Friday sweep in FP2, Verstappen second

George Russell topped FP2 for Formula 1's Sakhir Grand Prix, while his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas had a succession of flying lap efforts deleted for track limits abuse

22:06

22:05

22:04

22:01 The order after FP2:
Russell
Verstappen
Perez
Ocon
Albon
Kvyat
Stroll
Ricciardo
Gasly
Sainz
Bottas
Raikkonen
Giovinazzi
Magnussen
Latifi
Vettel
Norris
Fittipaldi
Aitken
Leclerc

22:00 FP2 in Bahrain has come to a close and George Russell completes a clean sweep of Friday's practices on his first outing in the Mercedes.

21:58 Gasly says he's had gravel flicked into his finger. He sounded in a spot of discomfort.

21:56 Verstappen has another whinge on the radio, this time stating "they're impossible to pass on the straight". Not sure who he's referring to, though.

21:54 Bottas has an off through Turn 5. Despite briefly holding the best lap of the day, Bottas is another who hasn't looked hugely comfortable in that middle sector.

21:53

21:51 Despite everyone being fairly bunched up, there's been no real issues with traffic in this last half hour.

21:50 10 minutes to go in FP2 and Bottas has a slight lock-up into Turn 1.

21:48 Vettel locks up into Turn 8 and has to run on. He just hasn't looked very happy through that middle sector.

21:47 Russell is doing his work on the hard tyre, while team-mate Bottas is on the same compound.

21:44 Just 15 minutes to go in FP2. Russell's 54.713s remains the benchmark. About 1.5s splits the Mercedes driver and his Williams stand-in Aitken in 19th. Leclerc hasn't set a time due to his earlier driveshaft problem.

21:40

21:39 Stroll makes a quick visit to the pits as he appeared to have a very minor bit of front wing damage.

21:38 Russell asking his team for a target lap time. His team says he's aiming for high 57s. He sounds so calm and collected despite stepping into the world champion's car.

21:35 Sainz has eased his McLaren back to pit lane after reporting that problem.

21:35 "I lost synchronisation on the gears," Sainz reports.

21:33

21:32 Perez fires in a 58.159s on that lap as he starts his race run on soft tyres.

21:30 That is session over for Leclerc, Ferrari has confirmed.

21:26

21:25 It's unlikely Russell's 54.713s lap will be beaten this evening as we head towards some race preparation with 35 minutes to go.

21:24

21:23 Bottas has aborted another lap. He was just out of shot, but the amount of dust he kicked up at Turn 8 suggests he exceeded track limits again.

21:22 Verstappen complaining of having "so much understeer" through the Turn 7/8 complex. Albon complaining of the same thing.

21:20 Just under 40 minutes to go in FP2 and Russell fastest from Perez, Ocon, Verstappen and Kvyat.

21:19

21:19 Ferrari has diagnosed Leclerc's problem as a driveshaft issue.

21:18 Replay of Bottas' cancelled lap shows he ran all four wheels off track at Turn 8. That's the area the FIA has decided to clamp down on after FP1.

21:17

21:17 Russell takes over top spot now with a 54.713s.

21:16 Bottas has had that 54.506s lap deleted for exceeding track limits.

21:16 Bottas shoots to the top of the standings with a 54.506s. But it did not look like a comfortable ride as he rattled over the bumps in the middle sector.

21:15 "It's really difficult just to make it round." Not encouraging words from Vettel to his Ferrari team.

21:14 Sainz has a scrappy lap and moves up to eighth.

21:13 Ocon goes second with a 54.940s having come up on a bit of traffic on that lap.