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SCMP Sport

Reuters

Zhou Guanyu will head into the weekend at the inaugural Miami Grand Prix full of confidence after getting his first taste of the new circuit.
The first Chinese driver in Formula One, Zhou finished eighth in the second practice session at Miami International Autodrome with a time of one minute 30.860 seconds.
The 22-year-old Alfa Romeo driver was pleased with his efforts, after a rain-affected FP1 outside Hard Rock Stadium, where he finished 13th in 1:33.020.
“It was really slippy out there, it was very tough for the guys,” Zhou said. “We didn’t expect it as a team how rough and unstable it was.


“But FP2 was a very big improvement and we started off in the right way. It’s a good sign, but plenty to work towards. But so far I’m quite enjoying this track.”
Friday was the first time on the track for every driver, and Zhou has clearly got to grips with it going into Saturday’s third practice and qualifying.
“The track is so wide, so it’s very easy to overtake,” he said. “It was fun, it’s always fun with tracks like that – it’s nice because you have a mix of different sections, not just high or low speeds.”

George Russell put his revived Mercedes team back on top of the time sheets with the fastest lap in second practice on Friday.
In a boost for the champions who have wrestled with a “porpoising”, or bouncing, car in the first four races, the Briton was 0.106 of a second faster than Ferrari’s overall leader Charles Leclerc.
Russell’s impressive time of 1:29.938 made Mercedes look more competitive than they have so far this campaign.
F1: China’s Zhou Guanyu shows off flashy Miami GP helmet – ‘I love it’
“We always knew that the warm conditions here in Miami would suit our car better – we’ve suffered with getting temperature in the tyres at previous races, so that’s a big factor here,” Russell said.
“The car is running well but it’s only Friday, we’re not getting carried away. It’s probably been the most productive Friday we’ve had this season in terms of learning.”
Leclerc had been 0.071 quicker than the Briton in the opening session with a lap of 1:31.098.
Red Bull’s world champion Max Verstappen, who was third in first practice, failed to set a time in the second session after his car suffered an hydraulics problem and the brakes overheated.

“He’s had a horrible day,” team boss Christian Horner said. “It’s frustrating not to have that track time.”
His Mexican teammate Sergio Perez was third fastest in practice two but was unimpressed with the Miami track.
“I am really disappointed there is no grip off-line,” the Mexican said. “It’s a shame, because I think the racing will be bad due to that. As soon as you try to go off-line, there is no grip.”
Leclerc and Verstappen have each won twice this season, with the Ferrari man 27 points clear of the Dutch 24-year-old, whose efforts have been undermined by mechanical problems and retirements.

Mercedes have brought new parts in the hope of unlocking performance, and first impressions were of clear improvement, with the car in a low-drag set-up and looking faster without bouncing.
Russell’s teammate, seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton, was eighth and fourth fastest respectively in the two sessions.
“We still have the bouncing, so we haven’t cured it, but bit by bit, we’re improving the car,” Hamilton said.
“The race is going to be tough, particularly with the tyres overheating, and it’s very hot for the drivers – I’ve already lost a couple of kilos today.”

The humid first session around the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium was halted with 24 minutes to go when Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas spun backwards into the tyre barrier at turn seven, damaging his car’s rear wing.
Action resumed after a 10-minute break but Bottas did not go out in the second practice.
Haas driver Mick Schumacher and McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo were summoned to the stewards after an earlier incident that saw the German narrowly avoid smashing into the rear of the Australian’s car.
The stewards decided to take no further action.

Max Verstappen feeling the (Miami) heat! ☀️

The Dutchman suffered a brake fire and steering troubles, cutting his second practice session short 😩#MiamiGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/FA2NDO8ZOy
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 6, 2022

Alpine’s Esteban Ocon was reprimanded for a pit lane near-miss with Russell after the Frenchman’s team made an unsafe release.
Leclerc, bouncing back from a disappointing weekend at Ferrari’s home IMOLA circuit two weeks ago, spun early on, and teammate Carlos Sainz, sixth fastest, suffered a puncture after the red flag period.
The Spaniard then crashed in the second session.
Williams’ Alex Albon, seventh fastest, was fined 800 euros (US$844) for speeding in the pit lane.
The second session was also briefly halted when Williams Nicholas Latifi stopped on track.


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Formula One (F1)

F1: Zhou Guanyu says ‘plenty to work towards’ after first taste of ‘fun’ Miami Grand Prix track

China’s Zhou Guanyu of Alfa Romeo talks before practice at the Miami Grand Prix. Photo: AFP

Alfa Romeo’s Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu steers during the second practice session of the Miami Formula One Grand Prix. Photo: AFP

Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing prepares to drive in the garage during practice at the Miami International Autodrome. Photo: AFP

George Russell during practice. Photo: Reuters

British F1 driver Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes in action during Free Practice 2. Photo: EPA-EFE

Formula One: Miami Grand Prix brings racing, legal trouble, and US$100,000 tables at clubs

British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and his physiotherapist and assistant Angela Cullen arrive at the paddock during at the Miami International Autodrome on May 5, 2022. Photo: EPA-EFE

Red Bull Racing’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen looks on as he stands in his garage ahead of practice at the Miami Grand Prix. Photo: AFP

British actor-comedian James Corden looks on as he arrives ahead of the Miami Grand Prix in Miami Gardens. Photo: AFP

People who paid for an F1 experience tour the track as preparations are made for the Formula One Miami Grand Prix at the Miami International Autodrome. Photo: AFP

Formula 1: Chinese star Zhou Guanyu shows off flashy Miami-inspired Grand Prix helmet – ‘I love it’

F1 star Zhou Guanyu shows off his newly designed helmet ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. Photo: Zhou Guanyu / Twitter

F1 star Zhou Guanyu shows off his newly designed helmet ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. Photo: Twitter

Sport


Chinese rookie finishes eighth in FP2 after rain-affected first practice session at Miami International Autodrome
George Russell puts revived Mercedes back on top of the time sheets with fastest lap in second practice on Friday



Chinese rookie Zhou Guanyu finishes eighth in FP2 after a rain-affected first practice session at inaugural Miami Grand Prix.


F1: Zhou Guanyu says ‘plenty to work towards’ after first taste of ‘fun’ Miami Grand Prix track

Chinese rookie finishes eighth in FP2 after rain-affected first practice session at Miami International Autodrome George Russell puts revived Mercedes back on top of the time sheets with fastest lap in second practice on Friday

Chinese rookie finishes eighth in FP2 after rain-affected first practice session at Miami International Autodrome

George Russell puts revived Mercedes back on top of the time sheets with fastest lap in second practice on Friday