Q2 – Antonelli returns to the top
Amid the confirmation that Gasly would be investigated after the session for impeding at Turn 15, the remaining 16 drivers prepared for another 15 minutes of action in Q2. Hadjar – the fastest man in Q1 – and Verstappen were the first to hit the track before the rest of the pack soon joined them, all sporting the soft tyres.
“This engine is not responding as normal” Verstappen radioed in. As the first times went on the board, Hadjar remained ahead of his team mate by 0.125s – but they were both soon pushed down by the Ferraris of Hamilton and Leclerc, Hamilton having dipped into the 1m 28s at the top with his effort of 1m 28.864s.
Russell then slotted into P2, his lap only 0.056s adrift after setting the fastest middle sector of all. Meanwhile Antonelli in the other Mercedes had his time deleted due to track limits, leaving him with plenty to do – but the Italian managed to move up to P3 on a 1m 29.043s.
At the other end of the order, things did not look to be going well for McLaren, with Norris only just safe in P9 while Piastri had fallen into the danger zone in P11. The Australian was joined in the bottom six by Gasly, Bearman, Sainz, Albon and Hulkenberg, the latter also having had his effort deleted for exceeding track limits.
As Russell hopped out of his car in the garage after asking for a spare seat, the clock ticked down into the final minutes of Q2. Verstappen’s next effort, meanwhile, put the Dutchman in P6, leaving him to state over the radio: “What a disaster… Unbelievable.”
Elsewhere, Piastri managed to improve to seventh – but would it be enough to see him through to Q3? Norris also remained in P9, putting the Briton at risk as those behind him tried to better their efforts.
While Antonelli went quickest on a 1m 28.493s, all eyes were on the names in the danger zone to see if any could progress – but ultimately it was not to be, with Norris and Lawson in ninth and 10th able to breathe a sigh of relief as Bortoleto, Gasly, Hulkenberg, Bearman, Sainz and Albon exited.
Knocked out: Bortoleto, Gasly, Hulkenberg, Bearman, Sainz, Albon
