P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Leclerc: Mercedes F1 one-lap pace “a bit of a surprise"
Mercedes had a solid performance in FP2 with Lewis Hamilton leading the way ahead of George Russell, while Carlos Sainz placed fourth for Ferrari. Charles Leclerc had a minor setback during his quick lap but remains optimistic about the team’s performance and potential. Ferrari showed promise in long runs, giving Leclerc confidence for the upcoming race weekend. Both Leclerc and Sainz acknowledged Mercedes’ unexpectedly strong pace in FP2 and are working on improvements, particularly with brake issues and fine-tuning the car’s balance. The Ferrari drivers are focused on anticipating the conditions for the race and maximizing their performance to compete with the other teams, with a special eye on Red Bull’s performance.
