F2 | FP | Barcelona GP | Lindblad tops the timesheets - Motorsport

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Formula 2 is back for the last part of this European triple header, with all 22 drivers about to head out on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the FP session of the Barcelona F2 Round.

Known for being one of the most complete and technically demanding tracks on the calendar, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will challenge the young pilots with its mix of high speed and low speed corners. Though they are familiar with the track after February testing, the drivers will use this session to gather additional data ahead of both races. With a warm weekend ahead, this FP session will provide teams and drivers with an overview of how to manage tyre degradation, one lap pace, and race pace.

Following the Monaco F2 Round, the standings have changed drastically. Luke Browning now leads the championship with 70 points, ahead of Alexander Dunne who fell down the standings with 67 points. While he has yet to win a race, Fornaroli stands in third with 64 points owing to his consistency.Alexander Dunne however carries a ten place grid drop for the Barcelona F2 Sprint Race following his incident with Victor Martins in Monaco. Incidentally, the Williams academy driver will join the Formula 1 team for a practice session.

Green flag in Barcelona

With 30 minutes left on the clock, the drivers finally left the pitlane to start this free practice session. Verschoor set the early benchmark of 1:44.827 at the start of FP in the Barcelona F2 Round, as he was joined by Goethe in second with a 1:45.934 lap and Meguetounif in third on a 1:47.732. Verschoor then improved on his own benchmark with a 1:28.044. He later dropped to second as Dunne went to the top of the timesheets with a 1:27.425. Meanwhile, Minì set the second fastest with a 1:27.854.

AIX Racing driver Shields ran through the exit of turn 2. Race control’s instructions for this weekend state that if a driver leaves the track and exceeds track limits on the exit of turn 1 into the entry of turn 2 – as Shields did – they must rejoin by going around the outside of the bollards on the left, effectively taking the MotoGP long lap route before returning to the circuit.

Dunne collided with the back of the Williams academy driver Martins – seemingly driving unexpectedly slow – on pit entry with 16 minutes remaining in the session, damaging the front of his Rodin Motorsport machinery. The incident was noted by race control and will be investigated after the session.

Going through turn 12, Campos Racing driver Linblad slid. The British driver then set a purple lap time of 1:27.147, pushing Dunne and Minì down the order.

10 minutes on the clock

Overall, teams and drivers limited their running because they’re already very familiar with the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. They can rely on last year’s race data as well as pre-season testing information.

Errors did creep in for a few drivers towards the end of the session. Cordeel went off the track into the gravel at turn 9 with 8 minutes left in the free practice session. Marti oversteered through turn 3 and ran wide on the dirtier part of the track, staying in 14th position.

Chequered flag

To conclude this session, Lindblad topped the FP timesheets with 10 laps in, followed by Dunne and Minì, completing the top three. The leading trio have opened up a small gap, but it’s incredibly close throughout the rest of the field. This will make for a very close Barcelona F2 Round.