Daniel Ricciardo beat Lewis Hamilton in the second free practice session in Mexico.
The Red Bull driver was 0.131s faster than Hamilton, and 0.023s faster than Bottas’ FP1 time.
Free practice two was stopped five minutes after the green flag to clear debris from Romain Grosjean’s Haas. The Frenchman had spun at the final corner, but recovered to speed down the pit straight. It caused his tyre to delaminate, sending rubber and carbon fibre over the track.
Having missed FP1 due to a loose wheel, Stoffel Vandoorne was the first man on track and was keen to get back out after Grosjean’s Haas was cleared. The McLaren only made it as far as the pit exit before he was told to park the car, reporting engine problems again. He finished the session 15th fastest.
Honda wasn’t the only manufacturer with problems in Mexico.
Max Verstappen, Pierre Gasly, Brendon Hartley, and Carlos Sainz all appeared to have problems with their Renault power units throughout the session.
With 15 minutes left on the clock, Verstappen was brought into the pits after Red Bull found the engine had an oil consumption problem.
He’d already set the third fastest time of the session, putting him ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen.
FP1 pace-setter Valtteri Bottas could only manage sixth fastest.
Fernando Alonso finished the session without the problems his team-mate faced, taking seventh fastest.
Sergio Perez, Nico Hulkenberg, and Esteban Ocon rounded out the top 10, with Sainz finishing just behind in 11th.
Felipe Massa claimed 12th fastest, three tenths of a second quicker than Lance Stroll in 14th. Hartley split the pair in 13th.
Pascal Wehrlein finished 16th fastest, followed by Kevin Magnussen, Marcus Ericsson, Gasly, and Grosjean.
