Perez fastest from Norris, Hamilton and Verstappen scrap in FP2
Red Bull’s Sergio Perez set the pace in second practice for the United States Grand Prix, as Formula 1 title rivals Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton had their first on-track scrap of the weekend.
Perez was the quickest driver during the short runs on soft tyres as he lapped the Circuit of the Americas with a 1m34.946s to top the FP2 leaderboard, 0.257s clear of McLaren’s Lando Norris.
After dominating opening practice, the Mercedes pair of Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas slipped back to third and fourth on Friday afternoon.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton had briefly jumped to the top of the timesheets with the fastest time seen so far this weekend on a 1m34.842s, only to see his lap time deleted for falling foul of track limits at Turn 19.
That dropped Hamilton down to fifth but he was able to improve with a second-timed effort to go third, 0.364s off the pace. Teammate Bottas had a scruffy second lap on softs as he stayed fourth, less than a tenth behind Hamilton.
The flashpoint of FP2 was provided by Hamilton and Verstappen as they engaged in an on-track battle early on in the session.
After being overtaken by Verstappen at Turn 15, Hamilton returned the favour at the final corner with both drivers about to start a timed lap, before the pair continued to race wheel-to-wheel along the main straight and all the way up to Turn 1.
