SQ2 – Norris takes over at the top
After a short break, the remaining drivers filtered back out on track, again with mandated medium tyres and now with a reduced 10-minute window to post their times – news from the stewards confirming that there would be no further action over the aforementioned incidents.
During the first sequence of SQ2 laps, Norris led the way on a 1m 31.174s, from Piastri, Verstappen and Antonelli, with the Ferraris of Leclerc and Hamilton a little further back in P5 and P6. Meanwhile, seventh-placed Russell lamented that his “tyres just aren’t working”.
Bortoleto, Hadjar and Tsunoda held the final SQ3 spots after the first runs, meaning Stroll, Sainz, Albon, Alonso and Bearman were the drop zone drivers – the timesheets subsequently lighting up in a blur of green and purple sector times as they all pushed to improve.
In the end, Albon was the only driver from that pack to get out of danger and secure safe passage to SQ3, going seventh with an impressive final time, while Norris remained fastest thanks to his original lap and Russell improved to second via a smoother run.
Alonso could not quite make the final segment in P11, with Bearman 12th for Haas, Sainz struggling to 13th, Bortoleto winding up 14th and Hadjar classifying 15th via a mistake at the start of his final run. “I don’t know what’s going on,” lamented a particularly frustrated Sainz over the radio.
Knocked out: Alonso, Bearman, Sainz, Bortoleto, Hadjar