Mexico GP: Russell quickest in FP2 as Pirelli continues tyre testing
George Russell led the way in FP1 of F1 Mexico GP from Yuki Tsunoda and Esteban Ocon as teams had another Pirelli tyre testing.
The extended FP2 session in F1 Mexico GP saw further Pirelli tyre testing for the 2023 season as they focused on running the softer compounds this weekend after running the harder ones at the Circuit of the Americas during the US GP weekend.
It was a mixed run again as like last weekend, the Top 3 finishers set their pace on the soft tyres of 2022 with Mercedes’ George Russell (1m19.970s) leading AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda (1m20.798s) and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon (1m21.177s) – all three having their first run of the day.
They sat out in FP1 after Nyck de Vries, Liam Lawson and Jack Doohan drove in the first test. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton (1m21.509s) was the first driver on the prototype tyres in fourth with the Red Bull pair behind them and Ferrari pair after them.
It was Sergio Perez (1m21.579s) again quicker than Max Verstappen (1m21.588s), where the Dutchman continued to have some moments. Charles Leclerc (1m21.618s) was seventh from Carlos Sainz (1m21.693s) but the Monegasque had an early end to his session.
Having lost his rear at the entry of Turn 8, Leclerc spun onto the barrier and damaged his rear resulting in a red flag. Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas (1m21.993s) was ninth from AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly (1m22.104s) in the Top 10, with his drift moment.
Alpine’s Fernando Alonso was 11th after his drift moment, with Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel in 12th from Williams’ Alexander Albon who set his pace on the soft tyres. The McLaren pair rounded the Top 15 with Lando Norris leading.
He had a moment towards the end as Daniel Ricciardo was 15th from Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll who led the Haas pair of Mick Schumacher and Kevin Magnussen. The Dane had a new ICE fitted – his sixth – and is due for a grid penalty.
Williams’ Nicholas Latifi was 19th from Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu, who caused a late red flag due to a hydraulic issue with the session not resuming again where less than two minutes was remaining.
