Turkish GP – Free Practice 2: Button Leads the Mercedes Armada!

The track temperature is higher for this second practice session of the Turkish Grand Prix. It is 14 degrees in the air and 19 on the track. The rain is also absent at the start of this afternoon. However, some parts of the circuit remain damp. Sébastien Buemi is the first to take to the track at the wheel of his Toro Rosso as soon as the red lights go out. The Swiss driver sets an initial timed lap at 1:33.022. The pace is already faster than this morning as the best time was set by Alonso at 1:38.670.

There are many drivers on track at the start of the session as the track conditions are closer to those they will encounter in the race on Sunday. Vitaly Petrov is the first to go under the 1:30 mark. The Russian driver sets a time of 1:29.926. This time is almost immediately beaten by Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren with a 1:29.030.

As the McLarens dominate the top of the standings, Mark Webber is working for the race, as he often does on Friday afternoons. This work is all the more important as Red Bull only has one car available for this session. Sebastian Vettel crashed 20 minutes before the end of FP1, and the world champion’s RB7 is not fully repaired.

After 30 minutes, it’s a Mercedes quartet at the top of the standings. Michael Schumacher is the fastest with a lap of 1:28.165. The German is ahead of his teammate Nico Rosberg and the two McLaren drivers, Button and Hamilton. The two British drivers are braking hard. It’s very noticeable before turn 9, in particular.

Pastor Maldonado has a scare in turn number 8. The FW33 slides sideways but narrowly avoids the wall, allowing the Venezuelan driver to continue. At the same time, Felipe Massa sets the fastest lap with a 1:27.959. The second Ferrari is in the pits due to a hydraulic problem.

At mid-session, it’s Nico Rosberg leading the rest of the pack with a time of 1:26.961. Vitaly Petrov is second on a track he particularly likes. Schumacher, Massa, and Buemi complete the top 5.

With just under 40 minutes remaining, Fernando Alonso is back on the track. The 150° Italia was stuck in the pits due to hydraulic issues. The Spaniard had a bit of a scare in turn 6 by losing control of his car. On the Red Bull side, Mark Webber takes the second-fastest time. This second session is not easy for the Ferrari team. Fernando Alonso is blocked at the entrance of the pit lane.

There are 30 minutes left in this second practice session when the drivers switch to the soft tires. Jenson Button takes the lead, 4 tenths ahead of Nico Rosberg’s time set with the hard tires provided by Pirelli.

At the end of the session, the McLarens and Mercedes GP hold the top four positions. Nico Rosberg confirms the good form shown this morning, under completely different conditions. Mark Webber rounds out the top 5.

Free Practice 2 Results – 2011 Turkish Grand Prix: