Monaco – Free Practice 2: Alonso dominates Hamilton and Vettel on a drying track

The numbers speak for themselves: 19°C in the air, 24°C on the track, and 71% humidity. This second practice session of the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix takes place on a wet track. As expected. Conditions could be similar for Sunday’s race, according to early weather forecasts. It might therefore be beneficial for the drivers to set up their single-seaters accordingly.

At the green light, no activity on the track. In the pits, Fernando Alonso has swapped his racing suit for a Ferrari parka. The image is telling. The session should be very calm, especially here in Monaco where mistakes cost dearly. After five minutes, a roar finally breaks the heavy silence. It’s the Mercedes engine of the Williams No. 77, driven by Valtteri Bottas. A reconnaissance lap for the Finn, who still went sideways in the Rascasse turn, just before heading back to the pits.

After thirty minutes, no one has come out since Valtteri Bottas. The crowd in the stands is bored, and rightfully so. A Formula 1 practice session without any F1 cars on the track is as thrilling as a football match without a ball.

After forty minutes, an engine roars again in the streets of Monaco. It’s the Sauber No. 99. Involved in an accident this morning, Adrian Sutil attempts an outing on intermediate tires. He is imitated by Daniil Kvyat! It’s almost a traffic jam in the narrow streets of Monaco. The Russian continues for a timed lap while Sutil settles for a reconnaissance. 1:44.982 for the Toro Rosso, beaten shortly after by its twin. 1:42.484 for Jean-Eric Vergne. Battle of the clock between teammates: 1:38.935 for Kvyat then 1:38.933 for Vergne.

First benchmark laps for Alonso’s Ferrari in 1:36.038, while Kimi Räikkönen is coasting. Vettel places his Red Bull at the top of the timesheets with a 1:35.896, quickly beaten by Magnussen with 1:35.805, then Button with 1:35.428. 1:33.780 for Vettel! Times are dropping lap after lap between the Red Bull and the McLarens.

After one hour, Button is leading with 1:32.423, ahead of Vettel, Alonso, Magnussen, and Bianchi. The Frenchman is just over a second behind the benchmark time, but only nine cars have set a time. After a fifteen-minute flurry, it’s much calmer on the track. Only the McLarens are still running. Button improves his benchmark by nine-tenths, clocking a 1:31.594, almost a second ahead of Vettel. Magnussen comes within seven-tenths of his teammate after a slight run-off at the chicane after the Swimming Pool.

Lewis Hamilton finally comes out fifteen minutes before the end of the session, followed by Nico Rosberg. After an observation lap to determine the possibility of using dry tires, both Mercedes cars remain on intermediates but do not record any lap times.

Ten minutes from the end, Vergne tries his luck on soft tires. Best time for the Frenchman, in 1:26.082! Kvyat raises the stakes by fitting the super-soft tires, followed by Hülkenberg. Second fastest time for Force India, 376 thousandths behind Toro Rosso. Everyone is out on dry tires! Pérez, then Hülkenberg drop the times to 1:22.699. Alonso, on super-softs, places himself at the top of the timing sheet in 1:22.047, two-tenths ahead of Sergio Pérez’s Force India. Unreal traffic jam on the track given the start of the session. The Spaniard improves immediately, in 1:19.498, just ahead of Lewis Hamilton by five-tenths. Marcus Ericsson crashes just before the tunnel!

At the checkered flag, the times are progressively beaten but Alonso remains in the lead, ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.