Lewis Hamilton remained atop the timesheets during second practice for Formula 1’s Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul Park on Friday afternoon.
Hamilton, who will drop 10 places from wherever he qualifies owing to taking a fresh Internal Combustion Engine, set two times quick enough for top spot.
The fastest, a 1:23.804s, was a new track record at Istanbul Park as he wound up 0.166s clear of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Leclerc displayed strong pace throughout the one-hour session as he went fastest during the Medium tyre runs, then recovered from a wide moment at Turn 9 to emerge second-best to Hamilton.
Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas classified third.
Verstappen slightly off the pace
Red Bull – running a striking Honda tribute livery at Istanbul Park – finished the session fourth and fifth, with Sergio Perez ahead of Max Verstappen.
Verstappen complained of understeer from his RB16B as he finished six-tenths down on title rival Hamilton during their respective Soft tyre runs.
McLaren’s Lando Norris bounced back from his Russia disappointment by placing sixth, ahead of Alpine duo Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon.
AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly spun through Turn 6 during his race simulation but classified ninth overall, with Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi rounded out the top 10.
No sign of repeating 2020 heroics
Last year’s Istanbul Park round was memorable for a lack of surface grip owing to recent resurfacing and the cool and wet conditions, leaving drivers seconds off the expected pace.
That facilitated a strong performance from Racing Point – now operating as Aston Martin – with Lance Stroll taking a shock pole position.
But 11 months on there were little signs of the team executing a repeat display, with Stroll only 13th, and Sebastian Vettel complaining of understeer en route to only 16th.
It meant Vettel finished in front of only the Williams and Haas drivers at the conclusion of Friday’s running.
Saturday’s final practice session is scheduled for 12:00 local time
[motorsport_result id=’74299′]
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