Q2 – Norris sets the pace as both Lawson and Tsunoda exit
Verstappen was the first to head out on track as the 15 remaining drivers hit the circuit for Q2 and the World Champion looked to have set the early pace with his first time on the board – before he was subsequently dislodged by the McLaren of Norris, going fastest on a 1m 27.146s.
Russell followed in second, ahead of Verstappen, Piastri – who lost time after going wide through the Degners – and an eye-catching Albon in fifth for Williams. The action then came to a brief halt owing to another small fire at the side of the track, with Sainz, Alonso, Bearman, Tsunoda and Lawson the drivers at risk in the drop zone.
When the session resumed with just over eight minutes left on the clock, the Ferrari duo of Hamilton and Leclerc were keen to get back on track – having yet to set a time on fresh tyres – while the rest of the field seemed content to wait it out in their garages.
Leclerc moved up into fourth, the Monegasque going on to tell his engineer that “the first sector was rubbish from me”, while Hamilton slotted into fifth as other drivers started to emerge for their final efforts.
Alonso improved to initially escape the danger zone, pushing Lawson down in the process, before better times from the likes of Bearman dropped the two-time World Champion down to P13. Gasly also exited in P11 – missing out by less than two-hundredths – as did Sainz in P12, Lawson behind Alonso in P14 and Tsunoda back in P15 during his first Qualifying for Red Bull.
It was also confirmed that a potential impeding incident will be investigated after the session after Sainz appeared to get in Hamilton’s way, the Ferrari driver voicing his unhappiness about the moment over the radio. The stewards would go on to hit the Williams driver with a three-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race.
Knocked out: Gasly, Sainz, Alonso, Lawson, Tsunoda
