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Charles Leclerc set the
fastest time of the second free practice session at the Sepang International
Circuit, venue of the Bahrain Grand Prix, with a lap of 1:37.528. Drivers
were greeted by scorching conditions, with air temperatures reaching 38°C
and track temperatures climbing to 54°C, figures that are likely to remain
similar throughout the rest of the weekend.
Isack Hadjar finished FP2
in second place with a time of 1:37.627, while Lando Norris recorded the
third-fastest lap with a 1:37.665. The reigning World Champion ran
exclusively on the C4, the Soft compound for this weekend, using two sets
during the second hour of running. Hadjar and Leclerc also set their best
laps on a set of Soft tyres, although both drivers additionally used a set
of Mediums during the session. No driver ran on the Hard compound today.
During the second half of FP2, every team focused exclusively on race
pace work. Tyre management is expected to play a crucial role on Sunday and,
for that reason, teams sought to gather as much data as possible ahead of
the Grand Prix.
In FP1, held in slightly cooler conditions than those
seen in the afternoon, almost the entire field split its programme between
Soft and Medium tyres. Only Max Verstappen, Isack Hadjar, Arvid Lindblad and
Franco Colapinto ran exclusively on the red-marked compound.
Verstappen ended the day at the top of the combined classification thanks to
the 1:37.520 he set on the C4 during FP1. In the opening hour of running,
the Dutchman completed 16 laps on his second set of Softs and seven on the
first.
George Russell set the second-fastest time with a 1:37.903,
recording his benchmark lap on Soft tyres after completing an 18-lap stint
on a single set of Mediums. Hadjar finished third with a 1:38.303 and, like
his team-mate, focused exclusively on evaluating the Soft compound, covering
eight laps on the first set and 15 on the second.
Simone Berra: Chief Engineer:
"Track conditions played a decisive role in tyre behaviour throughout this
opening day at Sepang. From the outset, grip levels were low due to dust on
the surface and a particularly abrasive track that requires a significant
amount of rubbering-in before it can deliver its full potential.
This
had a clear impact on track evolution and lap times, to the extent that
Friday’s fastest lap remained virtually unchanged between FP1 and FP2. The
benchmark time was more than four seconds slower than the qualifying
simulation reference, a mark that the cars may struggle to approach
tomorrow.
The sessions were also characterised by high thermal
degradation, generated by tyre sliding and the nature of the track surface,
with a significant impact particularly during the long runs.
The
absence of the forecast rain during FP2 allowed teams to complete a number
of race simulations, enabling us to gather substantial data on the C3 and C4
compounds, which displayed very similar levels of performance in terms of
both pace and degradation.
At times, the Soft proved more consistent
than the Medium because its higher level of grip helps limit sliding and,
consequently, heat generation. The performance delta between the two
compounds is around half a second, in line with expectations. The Hard
remains an unknown quantity, however, as teams chose not to use it and
instead preserve their available sets for the race.
With degradation
levels similar to those seen today, performance drop-off is between two and
three tenths of a second per lap. As a result, Sunday’s race could be shaped
by two or more pit stops, which was precisely the outcome we hoped to
encourage through the compound selection for this event. Before defining a
more precise scenario, however, it will be necessary to carry out a further
analysis of the data collected throughout the day."
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