Second GP practice in Monaco: Sainz crashes, Verstappen in front, Alfa-Sauber improves

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17 minutes from the end, with cloudless skies and 28 degrees all day, Carlos Sainz, who was fastest in the morning, was caught in the Ferrari. In the group combination he can no longer magic past the crash barriers – red flag.

Each star has been pushing the role of favorite to the other for days. Verstappen the Alonso, this one the Leclerc – and with the biggest update package, Mercedes should also be considered on the 78 laps. With the B version of the W14.

“Weakest Red Bull track”

And what does last year’s winner Pérez, who incidentally has starting number 11, say about the current situation? “Monte Carlo will be our weakest circuit of the year.” If you believe it, you may be putting your money on the wrong number. After five races, not a single opponent has seen the country against Red Bull Honda in 2023.

Here on the Mediterranean there is always a warning of surprises.

Even the 77 (Bottas) and 24 (Zhou) are big outsiders in positions 8 and 13.

The people from Hinwil use their modifications only in the second practice session: side boxes, underbody and rear wing. The C43 is expected to finally take a leap forward. Conclusion: at least one more crash can be avoided.

When it turned red in Monaco…

The red soft tires were only used after 20 minutes in the early evening on the 3337 meter track. By Alonso, Stroll, Sargeant and Bottas. And already the limit of 73 seconds fell by Alonso – 1:12.786. Bottas immediately countered in third with 1:13.351. Zhou’s red answer – 1: 13.802. But even the weakest man in the field, Nyck de Vries in the Alpha Tauri-Honda, was faster.

By the end of the second 60 minutes of practice, all drivers had put on the red rubber. Even Albon, who stayed in St. Devote after his morning accident, stayed in the Williams pits until just before the checkered flag.

Rumors flew into the harbor basin

Some of the rumors were the biggest talking point after Imola’s cancellation. Suddenly Leclerc was no longer happy with Ferrari and switched to Mercedes – and the Reds made a million dollar bid for Hamilton. Now the denials are flooding the port of Monte Carlo.

Ferrari boss Vasseur: “There are no talks between us and Hamilton. Lewis has been a friend for 20 years, so of course we talk a lot. For us, the future of the drivers is only an issue after the summer break.”

Lawyers are arranging Hamilton’s future

For Sir Lewis Hamilton (38), the Ferrari rumors have become part of everyday life. He can only laugh about it – who goes from bad to worse?

“My lawyers are currently working on a new contract with Toto Wolff. I read the 80 pages or so myself. Now I concentrate on improving the car!”

And Leclerc does not relate the rumors to himself, but to Carlos Sainz: “At the risk of this saying making headlines: every team wants a driver like Hamilton. But at the moment there is no reason to break up our team.”

Record from 2019 does not waver

Hamilton’s record is 1:10.116 from 2019. Many drivers trust that Monegasque Charles Leclerc (25) will achieve his third pole position here on Saturday at 4 p.m. (live on TV). But in four races, Leclerc has never been happy with three retirements and a fourth-place finish from 2022.

The results of the second training

The results of the first training

Source : Blick