Russia – Free Practice 2: Hamilton sets the record straight, Vettel breaks down
Lewis Hamilton regained the lead in the second free practice session, ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg. The Ferrari driver was stopped by an electronic problem half an hour into the session.
The track activity is intense from the start of this second free practice session of the Russian Grand Prix on the Sochi track. The weather remains perfect and the top drivers head out on the track right away.
The Mercedes and Ferraris are engaged in a battle against the clock. The advantage is briefly held by Sebastian Vettel with a time of 1:38.921, immediately beaten by Lewis Hamilton with 1:38.311. Nico Rosberg sets the second-fastest time, one-tenth behind the Briton, but Vettel improves his own score and then moves up to second place.
After half an hour of the session, the first dramatic turn of the weekend occurred when Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari stopped on the pit straight, near the wall. The race direction implemented the virtual safety car to allow for the removal of the German driver’s car. It appears that an electronic issue is the cause of this breakdown. The reliability of the Ferraris is undoubtedly very fragile at the start of this season.
VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR: Vettel stops on the pit straight: “I lost electronics” #FP2 #RussianGP #F1 🇷🇺 pic.twitter.com/nh6LCODEms
— Formula 1 (@F1) 29 avril 2016
Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas (Williams) is testing different front wings and Romain Grosjean (Haas) makes a mistake in turn no. 8. The French driver avoids the wall and continues without issues. Haryanto (Manor) and Hamilton also have small off-track excursions. Many drivers are on Super Soft tires, allowing Bottas to set the third fastest time with 1.39.860.
Half an hour before the end of the session, the standings are as follows: Hamilton, Vettel, Rosberg, Räikkönen (Ferrari), Ricciardo (Red Bull), Bottas, Kvyat (Red Bull), Button (McLaren), Massa (Williams), and Alonso (McLaren).
Sebastian Vettel is still in his pit, race suit on, but there is little chance of seeing him back on track today. Meanwhile, Rosberg goes back to the timing battle with Super Soft tires, but without making any improvement. Lap times in the Top 10 are not likely to change anymore.
The final classification of FP2:
#FP2 PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION #RussianGP #F1 🇷🇺 pic.twitter.com/XkxZxHkJGb
— Formula 1 (@F1) 29 avril 2016
