Algarve FP2: Everything you need to know

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Key moments:

> Session delayed by 10 minutes due to drain covers
> Verstappen held up by brake-by-wire sensor issue
> Alonso and Ocon fifth and sixth for Alpine
> Perez only 10th for Red Bull

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The start of the session was delayed by 10 minutes to enable race officials to inspect drain covers around the circuit – which proved problematic during practice for last year’s Portuguese GP as well.

Hamilton put his Mercedes on top of the pile 23 minutes into the one-hour session, after his team-mate Valtteri Bottas and Verstappen traded fastest times early on.

Verstappen then completed his final quick run later than the Mercedes drivers, because his programme was set back by a minor delay when a sensor issue caused a brake-by-wire problem.

Behind F1’s usual top three, the next four spots were taken up by Ferrari and Alpine, with Carlos Sainz Jr leading the way.

Next up were the Alpines of Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon, with Charles Leclerc seventh in the second Ferrari.

Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren and Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin were next up, ahead of Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull.

But while Perez’s best time left him in the middle of the pack, data provided by the F1 broadcast suggested he was fifth-fastest in qualifying trim.

Neither AlphaTauri made it into the top 10, with Pierre Gasly 11th and Yuki Tsunoda 14th.

Another noticeable name that looked out of position in the order was Sebastian Vettel, who ended the session 15th-fastest, seven tenths down on his team-mate Stroll.

Practice 2 Results