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Max third after Friday in Brazil: 'Positive start to the weekend'

Published on 15 November 2019 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen finished day one of the Brazilian Grand Prix in third place. Sebastian Vettel was quickest around the Interlagos circuit, ahead of his Ferrari team mate Charles Leclerc.

“It was a bit of messy day and the weather wasn’t representative”, said Max after FP2. We have to focus on the positives; the car is good around here and there are always things that can be done better but it’s a positive start to the weekend.”

Looking ahead to Saturday, Max is clear: “We start from scratch because the weather will be different.”

The second practice session starts with a bang. Robert Kubica crashes hard in the Williams and causes the first red flag of the session. The incident marks the end of the Polish driver’s Friday on-track action.

After the restart, the two Red Bulls set the pace, followed by a period in which Max, Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel fight for the top spot. On Max’ second run, he reports: “Engine braking is not good”

With the rain having stopped, the lap times tumble on the slick tyres. With forty minutes to go, Max heads out on another set of softs. He betters his time to climb to third, but is unable to beat the Ferraris.

In the final half an hour, the teams focus on race simulations, meaning the lap times no longer improve. Max reports he still struggles with the engine braking.

Scuderia Toro Rosso draw the most attention in the closing stages; Pierre Gasly causes a virtual safety car when his power-unit goes up in smoke, before Daniil Kvyat causes a red flag marking the end of FP2. The Russian’s car grinds to a halt due to a technical failure which forced him off track and into the tyres.

Brazil GP contest: win a 1:43 scale model of Max Verstappen's RB12 Brazil GP!

Results second free practice Brazil:

posdriverteamtimelaps
1Sebastian VettelVETFerrari1:09.217
2Charles LeclercLECFerrari1:09.238+0.021s
3Max VerstappenVERRed Bull Racing Honda1:09.351+0.134s
4Valtteri BottasBOTMercedes1:09.373+0.156s
5Lewis HamiltonHAMMercedes1:09.440+0.223s
6Kevin MagnussenMAGHaas Ferrari1:10.143+0.926s
7Daniel RicciardoRICRenault1:10.194+0.977s
8Kimi RäikkönenRAIAlfa Romeo Racing Ferrari1:10.210+0.993s
9Alexander AlbonALBRed Bull Racing Honda1:10.275+1.058s
10Carlos SainzSAIMcLaren Renault1:10.310+1.093s
11Nico HulkenbergHULRenault1:10.325+1.108s
12Pierre GaslyGASScuderia Toro Rosso Honda1:10.352+1.135s
13Antonio GiovinazziGIOAlfa Romeo Racing Ferrari1:10.419+1.202s
14Daniil KvyatKVYScuderia Toro Rosso Honda1:10.424+1.207s
15Sergio PerezPERRacing Point BWT Mercedes1:10.443+1.226s
16Romain GrosjeanGROHaas Ferrari1:10.504+1.287s
17Lance StrollSTRRacing Point BWT Mercedes1:10.568+1.351s
18Lando NorrisNORMcLaren Renault1:10.700+1.483s
19George RussellRUSWilliams Mercedes1:11.818+2.601s
20Robert KubicaKUBWilliams Mercedes---