F1Today's Notebook: Mexico Free Practice Two

At 2000 GMT Second Free Practice got under way, as the teams look to test the Pirelli Soft Tyre along with some high fuel runs. 2.5 seconds separates both the Soft and Medium compound. Thus, FP2 is pivotal regarding gaining data, as the weather is forecasted rain for tomorrow.

The session kicks with two crashes of different kinds. Session One Topper Max Verstappen had a soft crash that brought out the Red Flag and, unfortunately, ended the Dutchman's running. The incident itself was frustrating to watch, as he came out of the Baseball Stadium at low speed, the Toro Rosso lost it's rear and just hit the barrier, destroying the front of the car. The second incident involved Valtteri Bottas, the Williams managing record high-speed and soon as the Finn hit the brakes for Turn 1, they viciously rejected that idea, and the car ploughed off the track.

Nico Rosberg was flying throughout the session, setting the fastest time of 1:21:531, a benchmark that Hamilton was not able to compete with - although on one of his flying laps he did have a bit of traffic. The Briton set Personal Bests in Sector 1; he could not compete with Rosberg's excellence in Sectors two and three, staying 0.430 off his team mate pace.

The ambient temperature meant that teams were struggling with getting heat into the Soft Tyre, specifically Vettel who was on a low-fuel stint. The German told his team that there was no point in pushing for the first lap, due to the tyres' coldness – hinting that the secret of unlocking real pace will lie between the second and third flying laps. Therefore, in tomorrow's Qualifying we could see teams doing two hot laps as they chase for pole position. One team who managed to nail the tyres was Red Bull Racing. The Milton Keynes Squad was able to continue setting faster times on their third laps – something that Mercedes could not do. Daniil Kvyat ending up in 2nd place, only 0.245 seconds of Rosberg's impressive time.

Written by Harry Shovelar

NOV 01 - MEXICO GRAND PRIX - FREE PRACTICE 2

undefined	undefined	undefined	undefined	undefined DRIVER	undefined TEAM	undefined TIME	undefined	undefined DIFFERENCE	undefined
undefined 1.	undefined	undefined	undefined	undefined Nico Rosberg	undefined ___Escaped_link_68295a800546b___	undefined 1:21.531	undefined	undefined	undefined
undefined 2.	undefined	undefined	undefined	undefined Daniil Kvyat	undefined ___Escaped_link_68295a800546d___	undefined 1:21.776	undefined	undefined +0.245	undefined
undefined 3.	undefined	undefined	undefined	undefined Daniel Ricciardo	undefined Red Bull Racing	undefined 1:21.868	undefined	undefined +0.337	undefined
undefined 4.	undefined	undefined	undefined	undefined Lewis Hamilton	undefined Mercedes GP	undefined 1:21.961	undefined	undefined +0.430	undefined
undefined 5.	undefined	undefined	undefined	undefined Sebastian Vettel	undefined ___Escaped_link_68295a8005473___	undefined 1:21.984	undefined	undefined +0.453	undefined
undefined 6.	undefined	undefined	undefined	undefined Kimi Räikkönen	undefined Ferrari	undefined 1:22.399	undefined	undefined +0.868	undefined
undefined 7.	undefined	undefined	undefined	undefined Valtteri Bottas	undefined ___Escaped_link_68295a8005477___	undefined 1:22.721	undefined	undefined +1.190	undefined
undefined 8.	undefined	undefined	undefined	undefined Fernando Alonso	undefined ___Escaped_link_68295a8005479___	undefined 1:22.993	undefined	undefined +1.462	undefined
undefined 9.	undefined	undefined	undefined	undefined Jenson Button	undefined McLaren	undefined 1:23.109	undefined	undefined +1.578	undefined
undefined 10.	undefined	undefined	undefined	undefined Felipe Massa	undefined Williams	undefined 1:23.289	undefined	undefined +1.758	undefined
undefined 11.	undefined	undefined	undefined	undefined Nico Hulkenberg	undefined ___Escaped_link_68295a800547f___	undefined 1:23.290	undefined	undefined +1.759	undefined
undefined 12.	undefined	undefined	undefined	undefined Pastor Maldonado	undefined ___Escaped_link_68295a8005481___	undefined 1:23.363	undefined	undefined +1.832	undefined
undefined 13.	undefined	undefined	undefined	undefined Carlos Sainz jr	undefined ___Escaped_link_68295a8005483___	undefined 1:23.364	undefined	undefined +1.833	undefined
undefined 14.	undefined	undefined	undefined	undefined Felipe Nasr	undefined ___Escaped_link_68295a8005485___	undefined 1:23.430	undefined	undefined +1.899	undefined
undefined 15.	undefined	undefined	undefined	undefined Sergio Perez	undefined Force India	undefined 1:23.597	undefined	undefined +2.066	undefined
undefined 16.	undefined	undefined	undefined	undefined Romain Grosjean	undefined Lotus	undefined 1:23.614	undefined	undefined +2.083	undefined
undefined 17.	undefined	undefined	undefined	undefined Marcus Ericsson	undefined Sauber	undefined 1:24.533	undefined	undefined +3.002	undefined
undefined 18.	undefined	undefined	undefined	undefined Alexander Rossi	undefined ___Escaped_link_68295a800548d___	undefined 1:25.940	undefined	undefined +4.409	undefined
undefined 19.	undefined	undefined	undefined	undefined Will Stevens	undefined Manor F1 Team	undefined 1:26.968	undefined	undefined +5.437	undefined
undefined 20.	undefined	undefined	undefined	undefined Max Verstappen	undefined Toro Rosso	undefined no time	undefined