Italian Grand Prix 2023 – Free Practice 2: Perez’s exit, Sainz sets fastest time by a hair ahead of Norris

Under beautiful conditions, the second free practice session had barely started when it was interrupted after less than 5 minutes when Lance Stroll felt a significant loss of power before Ascari. The Canadian had to pull over on the side, in the grass. The red flag was waved while clearing the Aston Martin driver’s car.

Traffic on the runway

At the restart, there are 48 minutes remaining. Max Verstappen sets the first fastest time in 1:22.259 on mediums. George Russell and Carlos Sainz are behind.

Just as we could observe during the earlier sessions of the support formula races, traffic jams are bothering the drivers. This didn’t fail to annoy Max Verstappen, as well as Sergio Perez, who made it known on the radio.

In terms of lap times, the fast men we were expecting are here. Alexander Albon even goes as far as taking the second fastest time with his soft tires just behind Verstappen.

As there is half of the time left, we find the quartet that had dominated the first session at the beginning of the afternoon, the Red Bull and Ferrari. But it is indeed the Scuderia drivers who delight their fans by setting the two best times.

Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez return to the track on soft tires and the Mexican takes the lead from Carlos Sainz with a lap time of 1:21.540. The championship leader, on the other hand, is hindered by traffic and is unable to complete a proper fast lap.

McLaren in the mix

It is then the McLarens that surprise by taking the first (Norris) and third (Piastri) place. Finally, Carlos Sainz has the last word and takes back the benchmark time from the young British driver with a time of 1:21.355.

About ten minutes before the end of the session, Sergio Perez’s off-track excursion put an end to it. The Mexican went off into the gravel trap at the end of the parabolic corner. With less than 5 minutes remaining before the resumption, the drivers ultimately won’t improve their lap times.

Carlos Sainz, therefore, sets the fastest time, with Lando Norris trailing by only 0.019s and the unfortunate Perez in third, 0.185s behind. Verstappen recorded the fifth fastest time and expressed frustration at not having learned anything from this session.