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Norris stays on top in McLaren one-two as rain hits practice

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4 months ago

July 5, 2024

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Norris stays on top in McLaren one-two as rain hits practice

Lando Norris set the fastest time again in the second practice session for the British Grand Prix and was joined at the top of the table by his team mate.

The McLaren driver’s 1’26.549 put him three tenths of a second faster Oscar Piastri. Sergio Perez came third, four tenths slower than the pace-setter.

Perez, Pierre Gasly, Kevin Magnussen and Logan Sargeant returned to the cockpit for the second session after handing their cars over to junior drivers for the opening session.

Although rain arrived in the final minutes, much of the session was dry, allowing drivers to push and gain valuable data on the medium tyres. Charles Leclerc complained about the stability of his Ferrari in the high speed corners when ran off at the exit of Becketts, but continued a run of eight laps on the yellow-walled medium compound.

Max Verstappen set the quickest early time with a 1’27.831, but rather than staying out on his mediums like many of his rivals, the championship leader instead pitted to switch onto softs. Verstappen pushed immediately on his softs to shave six tenths of a second on the faster rubber, before returning back to the garage once more.

Leclerc went just under a tenth of a second faster than Verstappen with his first push lap on soft tyres, before the two McLaren drivers replaced the Ferrari at the top of the times with both into the 1’26s.

With around 25 minutes remaining in the session, Verstappen emerged from the pits with a three-lap old set of mediums for a long run. Norris also fitted mediums that were used, but significantly more so than Verstappen’s, for his high fuel run.

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Norris was warned that rain would hit the circuit “quick and hard” with just under ten minutes still remaining in the session. The rain eventually arrived with just over five minutes to run, leading to a mass return into the pit lane. Norris and Carlos Sainz Jnr opted to remain out on their slick tyres for an extra lap before they too returned to their garages.

Just before the chequered flag, several cars decided to head out on intermediate tyres to take advantage of the opportunity to attempt a practice start on the damp track. Soon after, the chequered flag flew to confirm Norris as the quickest driver for the second straight session ahead of his team mate Piastri, while Perez was the quickest Red Bull in third.

Nico Hulkenberg was fourth ahead of Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen ending the session in seventh. Sainz was eighth, with Lance Stroll and George Russell completing the top ten.