Verstappen, Stroll in ‘ridiculous’ FP2 crash, Bottas fastest

Second practice for the Portuguese Grand Prix was interrupted by a clash between Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll, which Racing Point team boss Otmar Szafnauer labelled “ridiculous”.

As the session ticked over into the final half an hour, Stroll began a second consecutive fast lap for Racing Point, with Verstappen following close behind about to set a lap of his own.

Stroll – apparently unaware of Verstappen – moved across in front of the Red Bull at the first corner and caused a tangle, with both cars spinning out into the gravel.

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In communications with his Red Bull team, Verstappen subsequently used outdated, offensive terminology similar to that when he abused FIA steward Garry Connelly in 2017.

“What, is this fucking guy blind? What the fuck is wrong with him? Jesus Christ. What a r****d. Yeah, I have damage. What a, what a M****l, I swear,” Verstappen said over team radio.

Asked by Sky about his choice of words afterwards, he said: “Not my problem.”

Racing Point team boss Szafnauer was interviewed by Sky moments after the incident and said: “We didn’t anticipate Max, what was the purpose? It’s just ridiculous – for what gain?

“I can assure you 100% that Max knew Lance was there. 100% there is no way he doesn’t know Lance is there. But Lance doesn’t know Max is there, it’s pretty simple to me.”

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said “both had a role to play” in the incident.

“Max has gone for the tow, he’s assuming that Lance is going to back out. He doesn’t know that Lance is going for a second lap.

“We saw that Lance was looking at his dash, maybe he’s not even aware that Max is there.

“Both sides are going to argue their case but I think you’d have to say it was a 50/50 and that’s it.”

The incident resulted in a red-flag period – the second of the day after the one incurred by Pierre Gasly’s AlphaTauri fire – and both Verstappen and Stroll are expected to be summoned to the stewards to ascertain the circumstances of the clash.

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas continued his dominant streak of Friday running by setting a time of 1m17.940s to end the day fastest, ahead of Verstappen.

McLaren’s Lando Norris made a last-lap improvement to just pip Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to third place, with Carlos Sainz and Sebastian Vettel following behind their respective team-mates in fifth and sixth.

Despite Gasly pulling aside with his AlphaTauri ablaze, he still set a time fast enough for seventh, ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Estevan Ocon in eighth and ninth.

Alex Albon completed the top 10 for Red Bull.

Practice 2 Results