SQ2 – Norris quickest, late drama for Sainz
After a brief pause, 10 minutes went on the clock for SQ2, a segment in which the medium tyre is again mandatory. Antonelli once again looked strong as the session got going, the Italian beating Verstappen to P1 by just 0.002s.
This position was soon taken by Piastri, the McLaren man setting the pace on a 1m 27.354s to go nearly two-tenths clear of team mate Norris. Others, meanwhile, opted to stay in the pits for the opening minutes, instead choosing to make just one run in the latter stages.
Amongst those to leave it late was Gasly, who made contact with the wall through Turn 16 but still slotted into eighth. An improvement from Ocon pushed the Alpine driver down into the danger zone, while Alonso and Hulkenberg also got themselves out of the bottom five.
-However, Hamilton and Albon both subsequently moved themselves up into the top 10, pushing Hulkenberg, Ocon, Gasly and Lawson into being eliminated.
Also exiting in P15 was Sainz, the Williams driver having suffered a lock-up on his lap that forced him into the runoff area at Turn 11. At the other end of the spectrum, the Spaniard’s former team mate, Norris, had gone quickest.
Knocked out: Hulkenberg, Ocon, Gasly, Lawson, Sainz
