The Aston Martin driver spent nearly all of the session atop the order with solely token interruptions from different drivers, as he discovered growing grip regardless of a lightweight sprinkling of early rain.
In the wake of the hailstorm and downpour that affected FP1, and anticipated additional precipitation predicted by the climate radars, the bulk sought to collect soft-tyre working in early on in the session.
Despite the predictions over the climate, the rain continued to carry off and allowed Alonso to renew his tenure on the high as he set a 1m15.810s, closing out the primary half-hour with largely interrupted working because the continued working negated the impact of rain.
When the soft-tyre working got here to an finish, it produced a prolonged hiatus as rain continued to fall. This ensured that, if anybody was going to take to the circuit in the ultimate 20 minutes, they would wish intermediate tyres – all however ending the possibility that anybody would beat Alonso’s time.
George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Russell was second fastest after separating the 2 Aston Martins, leaving Stroll in third place, whereas Leclerc awaits a verdict on his untimely however temporary intermediate stint from fourth on the timesheets.
