Verstappen surprised Ferarri and Mercedes in Sochi. Those of the 'rampant cavallino' had been better in the morning, but this time Charles Leclerc was relegated to second place, behind the Dutch, but ahead of that yes the Monegasque of the Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas , third, and Lewis Hamilton , fourth, as well as his partner Sebastian Vettel, fifth.

In a second round full of errors, with an asphalt too cold perhaps to heat the tires, Verstappen got into the middle of the war between Ferrari and Mercedes. Worse things went to the other Red Bull, Alex Albon , who had mechanical problems and finally closed the 'Top 10' behind Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso), Sergio Pérez (Racing Point), Nico Hülkenberg (Renault) and Lance Stroll (Racing Point).

There were several brushes and scares in the second round, with pilots on the edge of the collision. It was because of dismissal, as when the two Toro Rosso passed each other, or due to lack of understanding between pilots who were calmer and those who were looking for a time. Lewis Hamilton had to make a 'blow' to avoid, in a curve, Alex Albon, and almost also played with Carlos Sainz . Leclerc was also not saved, who was close to colliding with a Haas.

A nervous, simulation run in its final part as usual but full of track tension. Those dances between rivals, and even companions, were constant as well as the tops or excursions through the escapes to be impossible, it seemed, to stay on the right track due to lack of grip.

Still the free seconds were faster than the first, and without great regrets for anyone. It remains to be known if the rain that is expected to fall in the qualifying session this Saturday arrives, but on Sunday it seems that there will be no water and this Friday, especially the second round, has served to begin to dispel doubts.

He could not continue near the 'Top 10' after being eleventh in the morning a Carlos Sainz (McLaren) who in the afternoon was more discreet in terms of time, finishing in 17th position, but which was again the most active on the track , although the Williams and Toro Rosso of Daniil Kvyat were the most seen in Sochi.

Kvyat was obliged to do so, after his bad start to the Russian Grand Prix, in which he runs in 'home'. The Russian had problems in his car in the morning, which lost energy - a possible loss of fuel - and stood near Sochi curve 15. He could not return to the track and was left with only 5 laps and with the penultimate best time, being only worse the Robert Kubica Williams. Hence his extra work in the afternoon.

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