Friday practice at Yas Marina Circuit confirmed McLaren’s dominance as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri swept the top spots in FP2, cementing their team’s status as favorites to clinch the 2024 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship. Ferrari and Red Bull, however, face an uphill battle to match the Woking-based team’s pace heading into Saturday’s qualifying.
McLaren: Quick in Both Short and Long Runs
McLaren’s advantage was evident not only in single-lap times but also during long-run simulations. Piastri topped the charts with a 1:29.245 average over five laps, with Norris close behind at 1:29.568. Their pace underscores McLaren’s efficiency across all three sectors, particularly in maintaining speed into corners—a critical advantage for tire management in Sunday’s race.
“It was a good day,” Norris said, tempering the optimism. “The car feels strong, but I don’t think the others have turned up their engines yet. It might look glorious now, but tomorrow could be a tougher fight.”
Ferrari’s Troubles: Leclerc’s Grid Penalty and Race Pace Woes
Ferrari’s weekend started on the back foot as Charles Leclerc incurred a 10-place grid penalty for a power unit change. While Leclerc and Carlos Sainz showed reasonable pace, they lagged significantly behind McLaren in long runs. Leclerc averaged a 1:29.950 over seven laps, over seven-tenths slower than Piastri.
“I’m not wishing problems on anybody else,” Leclerc said. “We’re just focusing on ourselves and trying to do an amazing recovery on Sunday.”
Mercedes: Hamilton Shines on His Final Friday
Mercedes displayed promising form, with Lewis Hamilton’s long-run pace second only to Piastri’s. The seven-time champion reflected on the significance of his final Friday session with the team but remained realistic about their chances.
“McLaren’s still so fast, as is Ferrari, but we’re in the mix,” Hamilton said, balancing optimism with caution.
Red Bull’s Narrow Sweet Spot
Red Bull endured a challenging day, with Verstappen finishing 17th and Perez 14th in FP2. Verstappen, running a low-downforce setup, struggled with balance issues, describing the understeer as “ridiculous.”
“Just no connected balance from entry to mid-corner, and that makes it difficult to push,” Verstappen explained. “I’m not saying we’ll be at McLaren-level because they seem very quick, but a top-six fight would be a good recovery.”
Perez fared slightly better, highlighting some promise in long runs but acknowledging the RB20’s shortcomings in single-lap pace.
Long-Run Averages: FP2
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:29.245 (5 laps)
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – 1:29.505 (7 laps)
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:29.568 (7 laps)
- Sergio Perez (Red Bull) – 1:29.781 (8 laps)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:29.878 (8 laps)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:29.950 (7 laps)
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:29.980 (8 laps)
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – 1:30.121 (8 laps)
Key Takeaways
- McLaren in Control: Their edge in both short and long runs makes them favorites to secure their first Constructors’ title since 1998.
- Ferrari’s Uphill Battle: A 10-place grid penalty for Leclerc and slower pace leave the Scuderia scrambling for points.
- Red Bull’s Struggles: Balance issues continue to plague the RB20, with Verstappen setting realistic expectations for a top-six finish.
- Mercedes in the Mix: Hamilton’s pace offers a glimmer of hope, but McLaren remains the benchmark.