Sebastian Vettel set the pace during second practice for the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang as Romain Gorsjean crashes. He was ahead of Ferrari team-mate Kimi Räikkönen.
Vettel topped the Soft and Super Soft runs. He set a time of 1:31.261, a new track record, which put him over half a second clear of Räikkönen. With around 20 minutes remaining, Grosjean crashed heavily at Turn 13.
Replays later confirmed that Grosjean ran over a loose drain cover on the Turn 12 kerb. It had been flicked up by rivals, his rear-right tyre ripped from the rim on impact. Grosjean slid through the gravel trapped and slammed into the wall. He escaped injuries and promptly returned to the paddock.
RED FLAG: Session halted temporarily after GRO hits the wall at Turn 13
He’s out of the car and signals he is ok ?#MalaysiaGP ?? #FP2 pic.twitter.com/ZwwHLzqCN8
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 29, 2017
Following the incident, Race Director Charlie Whiting and Deputy Laurent Mekies inspected the section of track. Changes are going to be made on the way for the remainder of the weekend. Shortly after they arrived, it was confirmed that the session would not be restarted.
Red Bull, which formed a 1-2 in the wet this morning, was Ferrari’s closest rival in dry conditions, Daniel Ricciardo marginally in front of Max Verstappen.
Mercedes had another difficult session, with Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas both running off track en route to sixth and seventh, behind McLaren-Honda’s Fernando Alonso.
Bottas bottomed out over the kerbs at Turn 10. Hamilton spun through Turn 7 and the pair having to negotiate gravel traps. Hamilton, who leads Vettel by 28 points in the championship standings, finished almost one-and-a-half seconds behind his main rival.
Sergio Pérez and Esteban Ocon gave Force India a double top 10 result, after a quiet opening session, sandwiching the lead Renault of Nico Hülkenberg.
Jolyon Palmer took 11th in the other R.S.17. Stoffel Vandoorne sandwiched Williams’ Felipe Massa and Lance Stroll. The latter knocking over the pit entry bollard. Pierre Gasly led experienced Toro Rosso team-mate Carlos Sainz Jr. in 15th, with Haas pair Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen at the tail-end of the midfield.
INITIAL CLASSIFICATION: END OF FP2 (RED FLAG)#MalaysiaGP ?? #FP2 pic.twitter.com/DxV9wDbF0m
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 29, 2017
