A packed day of track action today in Rome, and now we are live for an early morning FP2.
Championship contenders Nick Cassidy and Jake Dennis are definitely hoping to have a better practice session, especially the latter who completed only a couple of laps yesterday due to a steering tower issue.
Other teams looking to get more track time in are Mahindra and ABT Cupra, who suffered from a software issue that marred both the rookie test and their first practise.
The first drivers to put in a timed lap were the Maseratis, with Günther signing their fastest effort in 1:42.738s, but the earlier best attempt is from Nissan’ Fenestraz in 1:41.729s, with the McLaren drivers still in the pits.
A brief yellow flag was issued when both NIO drivers ran straight at Turn 7, struggling with the braking zone, as well as Mitch Evans a bit later. With less grip due to the very high track temperatures, this might prove to be a very tricky segment while speeding in Qualifying or in the late stages of the race while also dealing with tyre degradatio.
After the first ten minutes, Envision leads with Cassidy lapping in 1:39.729s, followed by Wehrlein, Vandoorne and Buemi, with Robin Frijns having a moment at Turn 14.
At the halfway point in the session, everyone has managed to put in some laps, and Buemi has bested yesterday’s best attempt from FP1 signing a 1:38.904s. Rast and Evans have the best other attempts in the realms of the 1:39s.
Photo credits Jaguar TCS Racing
After a pit for fresh tyres, Vergne goes on top in 1:38.870s, a time quickly improved by Günther for Maserati.
The Italian team has definitely looked fast in the sessions completed in their home country so far, keeping up with their positive pace from Giakarta and Portland. His Italian Swiss teammate Edoardo Mortara has shown a great pace, now sitting in P5 with a lap in the 1:38s.
A brief yellow flag is issues as Robin Frijns spins out at Turn 16, as the top three with 5 minutes to go is packed with championship contenders. It won’t come as a surprise the fact that Mitch Evans is leading with a 1:38.308s, from Dennis and Wehrlein.
In the final heated moments of the session, Evans goes even faster becoming the first driver to break into the 1:37s, whereas Da Costa replaces his Porsche teammate in P3 and Dennis is the latest driver to ran straight at Turn 7.
