Russian GP: Verstappen outpaces Leclerc in second practice

Verstappen was only fourth fastest in the first part of the session using medium rubber, a quarter of a second off the pace-setting Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, with Lewis Hamilton just 0.001s quicker.

Leclerc was the first of the frontrunners to set a time on softs to consolidate his position at the top of the timesheets, posting a 1m33.497s on his first flier and gaining six-and-a-half tenths on his previous best time.

With 44 minutes remaining, Verstappen then crossed the line to set a time of 1m33.163s, which put him 0.335s clear of Leclerc despite admitting he didn't have a perfect final sector.

Verstappen, who like all the Honda-powered drivers carries a five-place grid penalty thanks to the introduction of a new V6, set first and third sector times on his quickest lap that stood as the best of the session.

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas set the fastest middle sector time of the session on his way to third-fastest overall.

The Mercedes drivers were among the last to set quick laps, with Bottas outpacing Hamilton by 0.152s.

Hamilton set his time just before Bottas and briefly held third place before being shuffled back by his teammate.

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel only gained 0.104s on his quick lap compared to his medium-tyre run, leaving him 1.039s off the pace in fifth.

Toro Rosso driver Pierre Gasly shaded Racing Point's Sergio Perez in the battle for best of the rest, which his pace in the final sector key to prevailing by 0.029s.

Nico Hulkenberg was eighth fastest for Renault ahead of the second Racing Point of Lance Stroll.

Alex Albon spent the majority of the session in the pits after an early eight-lap run on mediums thanks to a kerb strike that split the floor and caused an oil leak.

He returned to the track in the final 20 minutes after a floor change, having a near-miss with Hamilton in the long Turn 3 left-hander when he squeezed the Mercedes onto the inside kerb.

Albon went on to improve with a minute remaining to take 10th, 2.054s off the pace and just seven thousandths quicker than Lando Norris.

Daniil Kvyat put the second Toro Rosso 12th fastest of the lead Haas of Kevin Magnussen, with Daniel Ricciardo – who ended the morning session with a deranged rear wing after spinning into the barrier – 14th.

Alfa Romeo driver Kimi Raikkonen beat Haas's Romain Grosjean to 15th, with Carlos Sainz 17th.

Antonio Giovinazzi was 18th fastest after a lock-up and off at the Turn 13 right-hand on his first qualifying simulation lap, later finding a slight improvement on his medium-pace but still 2.842s off the pace.

George Russell won the intra-Williams battle at the back in 19th, a second faster than Robert Kubica.

Cla	Driver		Chassis	Laps	Time	Gap
1	Max Verstappen		Red Bull	29	1'33.162
2	Charles Leclerc		Ferrari	33	1'33.497	0.335
3	Valtteri Bottas		Mercedes	22	1'33.808	0.646
4	Lewis Hamilton		Mercedes	32	1'33.960	0.798
5	Sebastian Vettel		Ferrari	32	1'34.201	1.039
6	Pierre Gasly		Toro Rosso	26	1'34.971	1.809
7	Sergio Perez		Racing Point	31	1'34.998	1.836
8	Nico Hulkenberg		Renault	33	1'35.026	1.864
9	Lance Stroll		Racing Point	31	1'35.176	2.014
10	Alex Albon		Red Bull	18	1'35.216	2.054
11	Lando Norris		McLaren	33	1'35.223	2.061
12	Daniil Kvyat		Toro Rosso	38	1'35.337	2.175
13	Kevin Magnussen		Haas	26	1'35.351	2.189
14	Daniel Ricciardo		Renault	28	1'35.370	2.208
15	Kimi Raikkonen		Alfa Romeo	34	1'35.374	2.212
16	Romain Grosjean		Haas	31	1'35.593	2.431
17	Carlos Sainz Jr.		McLaren	29	1'35.635	2.473
18	Antonio Giovinazzi		Alfa Romeo	29	1'36.004	2.842
19	George Russell		Williams	38	1'36.785	3.623
20	Robert Kubica		Williams	36	1'37.838	4.676
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