Leclerc fastest in second training

Second part of the free training

Dark. Dry. Air +13…14С, highway +15…16С

The first practice in Las Vegas lasted less than ten minutes when three cars were damaged by opening the drainage system cover. Window had to change the chassis, and Sainz had to change the chassis, combustion engine, energy storage device and control electronics. Zhou’s car was not damaged as seriously, but the FIA ​​asked all teams to inspect the cars.

The start of the second training session was postponed by two hours so that all thirty drainage holes on the track could be checked for safety. As a result, the session was scheduled to start at 2 a.m. local time instead of midnight, but was postponed for another half hour.

Spectators who had paid a lot of money were asked to leave the stands because the security guards were finishing their shift and they could no longer work according to the union’s conditions. The empty stands, which were almost completely filled during the first training, were not shown in the broadcast.

The duration of the workout was extended to 90 minutes instead of 60 to make up for lost time.

Pirelli brought the softest tires to the podium – C3, C4 and C5 in Hard, Medium and Soft roles, but they also lacked grip – the racers complained that the cars slid as if on ice.

Norris suffered technical problems and returned to the pits. Magnussen, Perez, Alonso, Stroll, Verstappen, Albon and Sainz locked their tires under braking, causing them to end up in the safety pocket without any consequences for the cars. Sargent and Hulkenberg were warned with a black and white flag for crossing the line when entering the pit lane.

Charles Leclerc led the protocol and completed a lap in 1:35.265.

Results of the second session

First part of the free training

Dark. Dry. Air +17C, highway +19C

Getting to know a new track is always interesting – for racers and fans alike. Local time, the first session started at 8:30 PM on Thursday and in Moscow it was half past seven on Friday morning.

This weekend there are no preliminary races, the asphalt was completely fresh – the track work was completed the day before, the riders complained about the lack of grip and gradually gained speed and confidence.

Red flags appeared in the ninth minute – Sainz stopped at the end of the straight before Turn 14 due to damage to the underside of the drainage system hatch frame, having completed just four laps. The racers returned to the pits, the car was evacuated not very quickly and a delegation of the FIA ​​​​and local specialists went to the scene.

Alpine said they would have to replace Esteban Ocon’s chassis due to damage from the drain hatch. Guanyu Zhou’s car was also damaged.

Here ended the first training session, which lasted less than ten minutes – the problem with the track turned out to be serious and they decided not to continue the session, to the disappointment of numerous spectators who almost filled the stands. The first pancake came out lumpy.

First part of the free training