Another heavy crash for Albon
Alex Albon suffered another heavy shunt in Red Bull colours during FP2 at the Mexican Grand Prix.
Here is how Friday practice played out in Mexico City…
It was all smiles for Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg.
FP1 marked their first outing since the pair were disqualified from the Japanese GP results for the use of a brake bias adjustment system.
Valtteri Bottas must avoid being outscored by 14 points or more by Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton if he wants to keep the title fight alive into the United States GP.
Such big stakes required Bottas’ trusted weapon.
Valtteri Bottas: Powered by Porridge®️
🥣😉
What did you start your day with today #BestFans? 🍽 pic.twitter.com/08tanzFBDZ
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) October 25, 2019
These conditions made the start of FP1 a damp squid – the teams were waiting for the track to totally dry after last night’s rain before they began to push.
☁️ Grey skies overhead and a few damp patches on track as race weekend gets under way#MexicoGP 🇲🇽 #F1 pic.twitter.com/BZTVmm7DiZ
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 25, 2019
The lack of on-track action allowed Haas to provide everyone with some new GIF material.
Romain (and Guenther) ready for action in Mexico 😆#HaasF1 #MexicoGP #FP1 pic.twitter.com/FUOacXkAKQ
— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) October 25, 2019
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) October 25, 2019
With just over an hour to go Nicholas Latifi, standing in for Robert Kubica, kicked us off, but Bottas’ 1:21.8 soon dumped the Canadian off top spot.
The times soon tumbled though with Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen all trading P1 duties with Bottas.
A moment of glory for @NicholasLatifi earlier @WilliamsRacing when they briefly led the #FP1 session, but it’s business as usual now. @LewisHamilton currently on top with the medium tyre. Mostly mediums and softs being used, @McLarenF1 on the hards. pic.twitter.com/V2LPzfnSF7
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) October 25, 2019
Verstappen had reason to be happy, but it was Leclerc who became the first driver into the 1:18’s – and that was on the medium tyres.
Lance Stroll brought out the first red flag of the weekend as he slid into the barriers at the final turn.
🚩 RED FLAG 🚩
Problems for @lance_stroll – he's into the barriers at the final turn 💥
The Canadian manages to get going again but heads straight back to the pits#MexicoGP 🇲🇽 #F1 pic.twitter.com/yKXVTMnEtK
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 25, 2019
Hamilton raised the bar by setting a 1:17.327 on the softs shortly after the session re-started. Leclerc and Verstappen fell just over a tenth short of that time, but Leclerc did so still on the medium tyres.
Vettel meanwhile was struggling to find a place on-track for his Ferrari.
Friday traffic! #MexicoGP 🇲🇽 #F1 pic.twitter.com/rzRubaYQeS
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 25, 2019
Maybe he needed the help of this guy to put a few of those drivers to sleep?
A big hello to @WWE Superstar @SamoaJoe 👋
Great to see you here 👏#MexicoGP 🇲🇽 #F1 pic.twitter.com/PFjgJ3H8cK
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 25, 2019
Hamilton topped FP1, but clearly Leclerc was the one to watch!
🏁 FP1 = Done 🏁
Your top 10…
Hamilton
Leclerc
Verstappen
Albon
Bottas
Vettel
Sainz
Gasly
Kvyat
Giovinazzi#MexicoGP 🇲🇽 #F1 pic.twitter.com/7ZP5OWhwmk— Formula 1 (@F1) October 25, 2019
Vettel continued on the mediums at the start of FP2, setting an early 1.18.6. Verstappen went 0.023s slower on the same compound after a scruffy end to his lap.
Vettel would improve with Leclerc taking over P2 before the youngster went for a spin at Turn 1.
But, there was a bigger crash to follow as Albon went into the wall at Turn 8. Out came the red flags. Luckily the Red Bull driver was okay, but very disappointed.
Crash! 🔥 ALB #redflag #FP2 🚩 pic.twitter.com/cEXZvaSUKA
— Adrian Puente F1 (@TelemetricoF1) October 25, 2019
Bottas was next to spin at the stadium section shortly after the track went back to green, but he managed to avoid the barriers.
Plenty of spins out there so far in FP2 🔄
Bottas is the latest, spinning 180 on entry to Foro Sol#MexicoGP 🇲🇽 #F1 pic.twitter.com/iJVnWd8GUF
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 25, 2019
With just over 50 minutes to go Leclerc bolted the softs on for the first time – into P1 he went with a 1:17.072, nine tenths up on Vettel.
The German responded in style with a 1:16.6.
#Seb5 clocking 1:16.607 and #Charles16 1:17.072. Both drivers are on soft tyres, P1 and P2. #FP2 #MexicoGP🇲🇽
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) October 25, 2019
Verstappen went a tenth slower than Vettel to split the Ferraris – a good effort from the Red Bull man.
For Hamilton it was a different story as he set a time one second slower than Vettel on the same compound. He was also three tenths slower than Bottas.
Drivers would dive into their race sims, meaning Vettel topped the session ahead of Verstappen.
But there was just enough time for Leclerc to go for another spin.
Big slide from Leclerc just as the session ends 😱#MexicoGP 🇲🇽 #F1 pic.twitter.com/5Z3KvczlUr
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 25, 2019
Follow all the action from the Mexican Grand Prix with the PlanetF1 live centre