After yesterday’s thrilling FP0 and FP1, which featured a good mix of rookies, quick laps, thrilling racing, and near misses, we began FP2 with issues with drivers’ vision being impacted by the sun. 

Rough Start & Warm-Up Laps

In addition to the sun blinding drivers, as demonstrated in FP1 for Barnard, the cold temperature required drivers to complete more laps to fully heat their tires. As the practice started following some warm-up laps, Mortara suffered a short lockup but kept it clean.

Before going into the pits, Rowland took the pole early with a time of 1:02.76, but Mueller took the lead with a time of 58.07. De Vries, who also displayed considerable skill, grabbed the lead with a time of 57.31. The fact that those laps were only tenths of a second apart indicated that the session would be close and made qualifying later today much more thrilling.

Track Limits & Close Calls

Once more, track limits are a common issue; as a result, several drivers’ lap times have been erased. We had an angry Rowland on the radio nine minutes into the program, irritated by traffic and car issues.

Will Power made some intriguing remarks about the practice itself and his desire to test out an FE car, while Da Costa momentarily maintained the lead at 57.04 while several drivers went into the pits.

A close call and some miscommunication occurred between Buemi and Cassidy. Cassidy was on a slow lap and almost made contact with Buemi in the last corner, forcing Buemi to abandon his fast lap and enter the pits, much to his frustration. For the incident, Cassidy received his first reprimand.

Seconds Apart While Porsche Struggles

Erickson momentarily moved up to P3, but Maloney took P1 with a 56.65 thanks to the car modifications. Dennis’s gearbox was producing an odd noise, he was three tenths slower than his teammate Drugovich, who was seated in P9, and there may have been a technical problem. While this was going on, Nato was leading by 55.679, followed by Vergne and both Mahindras.

Di Grassi claimed p3, but he was overtaken by Da Costa, who took the lead with a time of 55.58. The final lap time was erased due to track restrictions, and Da Costa fell to p14. Porsche was having trouble; Wehrlein was being investigated for ignoring the racing director’s orders, and both drivers were sitting at P19 and P20.

High Stakes & Hard Falls

Marti took the lead with 55.674, but Mueller appeared to have found some pace, jumping to p7. It was a close race as Rowland in the pit struggled with the rear axle grip while sitting at p19, and Mueller took the lead from Marti. 

Ticktum was battling with grip and traffic and had some close calls. With two minutes left, Barnard was comfortably seated in P1 at 55.531. Di Grassi and Evans made contact turn 5 and it was enough to put the session from red-double yellow to premature end. The impact managed to set Di Grassi’s extinguisher off and this may indicate an issue for qualifying for the Lola Yamaha. 

With some mixed results and the drama we have grown accustomed to from Formula E, that concludes FP2. As we wrap up Round 3 in Miami later today, keep an eye out for some exciting action and craziness for the race due to track limits, blinding sun, grip issues, and driver chaos during qualifying.