Russian GP Friday practice

By: Geoff Creighton

Summary


	Verstappen fastest for Red Bull in FP2 as team-mate Albon suffers problems
	Leclerc second after topping the morning session, Vettel fifth
	Bottas the fastest Mercedes driver in third, Hamilton fourth

Status: Stopped

16:43 Here's the session report, with Verstappen on top! We'll see you tomorrow for FP3 and qualifying at Sochi!

Russian Grand Prix practice: Verstappen on top for Red Bull in FP2

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen topped the second Formula 1 free practice session ahead of the Russian Grand Prix

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16:32 And the rest: 11 Norris; 12 Kvyat; 13 Magnussen; 14 Ricciardo; 15 Raikkonen; 16 Grosjean; 17 Sainz; 18 Giovinazzi; 19 Russell; 20 Kubica.

16:32 Final order: 1 Verstappen; 2 Leclerc; 3 Bottas; 4 Hamilton; 5 Vettel; 6 Gasly; 7 Perez; 8 Hulkenberg; 9 Stroll; 10 Albon

16:31 Magnussen is told he has an issue right at the end of the session, and to cruise back to the pits (which he has done).

16:30 Chequered flag is out - Verstappen ends FP2 fastest for Red Bull.

16:30 "******* Force India" says Leclerc. We've made that mistake in the heat of the moment plenty of times too, Charles.

16:27 Leclerc joins Verstappens in the 1m38s bracket. His latest time is a pretty impressive 1m38.181s.

16:26 Albon has been able to go for a fast lap, and improves to 11th on a 1m35.325s.

16:26 Verstappen remains out on his own in the 1m38s. With five minutes on the clock, he's told his current lap will be his last.

16:21 Verstappen is into the 1m38s at the start of his soft-shod run.

16:21 Albon is back on track, but almost immediately in trouble as Hamilton catches him at speed accelerating through Turn 3. There's a deep intake of breath as the Mercedes driver gets a wobble on when running over the kerb, but he keeps it together.

16:18 Red Bull reckons it's seen enough from Verstappen on mediums, and switches the current pacesetter onto a pair of softs for the final 12 minutes of the session.

16:17 "These kerb strikes are woeful," says Russell.

16:17 Hamilton's latest effort on softs is a 1m40.188s which is better, but still a bit off what Verstappen and (to a lesser extent) Leclerc are managing.

16:13 Verstappen sets a 1m39.429s after a slow lap, which is three tenths faster than Leclerc's latest effort.

16:13 "You're doing the right thing, please continue to stay off the orange kerbs," McLaren tells Norris.

16:12 Perez and Hulkenberg are setting pretty similar times in the midfield. They're both in the low-1m40s.

16:11 Kvyat reports "again, anti-stall". He first experienced that going over the kerb at Turn 2 early on in the session.

16:09 "Target lap time on this compound [softs] around 1m40.5s," Raikkonen is told.

16:09 Right, long runs. Leclerc's first lap was a 1m40s, but his second is a 1m39.659s. Vettel matched that to the thousandth on his first lap on softs.

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16:05 Gasly's team radio was slightly muffled, but Kvyat was quick to check in and said, "Sorry I didn't see him".

16:03 Replays show the Toro Rossos getting perilously close on-track. It's even possible Gasly tagged the rear of Kvyat, who had just come out of the pits, exiting Turns 2 and 3.

16:02 Steady stream of cars out on track now. Most have gone for softs, but Ferrari has split its running for now. Vettel has that red-walled rubber, while Leclerc is on yellow-walled mediums (as is Verstappen).

16:00 Some news elsewhere while there's a bit of an on-track lull. Former Williams, McLaren and Red Bull driver and 13-time grand prix winner David Coulthard has been elected president of the BRDC.

Coulthard elected president of Silverstone owner BRDC

Ex-Formula 1 driver David Coulthard has been elected as president of the British Racing Drivers' Club

15:57 And the rest: 11 Kvyat; 12 Magnussen; 13 Ricciardo; 14 Raikkonen; 15 Grosjean; 16 Sainz; 17 Albon; 18 Giovinazzi; 19 Russell; 20 Kubica.

15:56 Qualifying simulations done, here's how the order stands: 1 Verstappen; 2 Leclerc +0.335s; 3 Bottas +0.776s; 4 Hamilton +0.991s; 5 Vettel +1.039s; 6 Gasly +1.809s; 7 Perez +1.836s; 8 Hulkenberg +1.864s; 9 Stroll +2.014s; 10 Norris +2.061s

15:54 "It's mainly exits for Verstappen," Hamilton is told. "Turn 10 biggest loss to Verstappen."

15:53 Bottas does better Hamilton though and slots into third, 0.776s off the pace.

15:51 Bottas forfeits close to half a second down on Verstappen through the first sector alone on his fast lap.

15:51 Hmm. While one Red Bull sits at the top of the times, the other is sat on stilts in the garage. Albon is out of the car, which looks like it's going nowhere fast.

15:49 Hamilton is the best part of a second down on Verstappen on his first timed lap on softs, which puts him third.

15:48 Let's not get ahead of ourselves; remember, all four Honda-powered drivers have grid penalties here.