F1 Spanish GP: Charles Leclerc fastest from Mercedes pair in second practice

Charles Leclerc kept Ferrari at the top of the F1 timesheets in second practice at the Spanish Grand Prix, while Mercedes demonstrated some competitive pace. 
Charles Leclerc (MON) Ferrari F1-75.
Charles Leclerc (MON) Ferrari F1-75.

Having led a Ferrari 1-2 in opening practice, Leclerc bettered his FP1 benchmark with a 1m19.670s a🐻round the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to double up on Friday as the championship leader headed both practice sessions. 

He was joined at the top of the FP2 order by Mercedes duo George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, who both enjoyeꦍd an encouragingly-competitive showing for the reigning world champions. 

Russell ended up just 0.117s beh♛ind L🥀eclerc in Mercedes’ upgraded W13, while teammate Hamilton was a further 0.087s adrift. 

George Russell (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W13. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 6, Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona, Spain,
George Russell (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W13. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 6, Spanish Grand…

Carlos Sainz wa👍s fourth-fastest but over three-tenths down on his Ferrari teammate, while Max Verstappen took fifth.&♌nbsp;

The Red Bull driver was 0.336s behind his main title rival Leclerc, who leads the world championship standings by 19 p𒐪oints afteꦦr the first five rounds. 

Alpine’s Fernando Alonso😼 got within half a second of Leclerc with a lap good enough for sixth as he split the Red Bulls, with Sergio Perez a sizeable chunk behiꦉnd. 

Sebastian Vettel, Esteban Ocon and Mick Schumacher completed the rest of 🔯the top 10 for Aston Martin, Alpin🦂e and Haas respectively. 

Th🌳ere was trouble for Valtteri Bottas, whose Alfa Romeo broke down at Turn 2 on just his third lap of the session. 

Bottas’ best lap on mediums still kept him ahead of teammate Guanyu Zhou, who returned to action after sitting out FP1 as reserve driver Robert Kub🌃i🌄ca deputised. 

Lando Norris was left at the very bottom of the timings after damaging 𓆏the floor of his McLaren during a wide moment at Turn 9 early in 💧the session. 

Lando Norris (GBR) McLaren MCL36. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 6, Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona, Spain, Practice
Lando Norris (GBR) McLaren MCL36. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 6, Spanish Grand Prix,…

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