Abu Dhabi GP: Verstappen returns to the top in FP2
18th November 2022Red Bull’s Max Verstappen missed out FP1 earlier on, but the Dutchman quickly returned to the top spot as he set the fastest time on the board with a 1:25.146.
When the final F1 session of the day went under green-flag conditions, Alfa Romeo’s Gunayu Zhou was the first driver to venture out onto the track – ahead of Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. This was set to be the only representative session of the weekend, ahead of Qualifying and the race, as the sun began to set.
After three minutes, the majority of the field were out on track while the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton remained in the garage. However, the latter soon ventured out and put in the third fastest lap, behind Leclerc and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon who were P1 and P2 respectively.
Hamilton soon ventured out on the circuit to set his initial lap on the board.
McLaren’s outgoing driver, Daniel Ricciardo, was forced to return to the pit lane as the Australian driver nearly lost control of his MCL36 at turn three. The Aussie stated he would require a set-up change to his car. As such, the McLaren mechanics were quick to alter the rear suspension of Ricciardo’s car before they sent him back out on track.
As the session crept closer to its halfway mark, and more representative to qualifying on Saturday, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen topped the timing board ahead of Leclerc and – Verstappen’s teammate – Sergio Perez. The Dutchman topped the session with a 1:25.335.
At the same time, Ricciardo reported a slippery patch on the McLaren’s grid box. The team quickly stated they would speak to the FIA to find a solution to their problem.
In the dying moments, Verstappen remained as the fastest man out on track – improving his previous best – with a 1:25.146 as Russell and Leclerc occupied P2 and P3 respectively.
That’s it for the article; Abu Dhabi GP: Verstappen returns to the top in FP2!
Who is your early contender for pole position, in Saturday’s qualifying? Let us know in the comments!
Read more Formula 1 here:
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- Nico Hulkenberg returns to F1 with Haas
- Haas to part ways with Schumacher
- Binotto rumours are ‘without foundation’ says Ferrari
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
