The FP2 unfolded on Friday morning local time under clear conditions at the iconic 5.807‑kilometer track, known for its challenging S‑curves and high‑speed 130R corner. Oscar Piastri claimed the top spot for McLaren with a benchmark lap of 1:30.133, holding off the Mercedes duo in a tightly contested run. Antonelli slotted into second, just 0.092 seconds behind, while Russell followed closely at 0.205 seconds off the pace.
Lando Norris placed fourth for McLaren, 0.516 seconds adrift, with Charles Leclerc fifth in the Ferrari at 0.713 seconds back. Lewis Hamilton with Ferrari, rounded out the top six, though exact gaps beyond the leaders varied slightly across reports. Piastri’s effort highlighted McLaren’s competitiveness, but Mercedes locked out the next three positions in some early readouts before final tweaks.
After setting the pace on Friday, are McLaren a threat to Mercedes? 🤔
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 27, 2026
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