Sainz tops extended Mexico GP FP2 as Russell has heavy crash

Sainz tops extended Mexico GP FP2 as Russell has heavy crash

26th October 2024 0 By Kamron Kent

Ferrari Carlos Sainz topped the timing sheets in an extended second practice session, at the Mexico Grand Prix, ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. 

Feature image credit: Scuderia Ferrari

Unlike the earlier practice session, the second practice was extended from the usual 60 minutes to 90 minutes to allow for testing for Pirelli’s 2025 experimental tyre. 

As such, Pirelli gave the teams a run plan to help them gather data on the prototype tyre. However, those who missed first practice, like McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, were granted 30 minutes to practice freely. 

The session wasn’t without interruption as Mercedes’ George Russell endured a heavy shunt into the barrier at turn nine causing a lengthy red flag. 

He lost control as he bottomed out his W15 over the kerbs at turn eight which spat him back out onto the track, sliding sideways, and the two-time race winner was not able to scrub off enough speed to avoid a heavy hit with the barrier. 

The Briton climbed out of his car gingerly and was driven straight into the FIA’s medical centre, driven by the FIA’s medical team. 

How did FP1 finish?

Sainz set the benchmark pace after 90 minutes of running with a 1m 17.699s lap, one-tenth ahead of Piastri and VCARB’s Yuki Tsunoda who finished second and third. 

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was the last driver to put in a lap time that was one-tenth off Sainz’s best, in fourth, ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris who completed the top five. 

Haas’ Kevin Magnussen occupied sixth ahead of Hamilton, Kick Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas, Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and VCARB’s Liam Lawson who finished seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th respectively. 

Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll finished 11th and 14th respectively, leaving Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon to fill in the Aston Martin sandwich down in 12th and 13th. 

Williams’ Franco Colapinto rounded out the top 15 drivers down in 15th, 1.209s off the pace of Sainz. 

Alpine’s Pierre Gasly was the fourth slowest driver of the field in 16th ahead of Zhou who occupied 17th. Following his crash, Russell finished 18th ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, 19th, who had limited running due to mechanical issues.

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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.

CategoryFormula 1 Formula Series News

About the author

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.

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