Yuki Tsunoda leads Carlin one-two in Silverstone F2 practice

Red Bull Honda protege Yuki Tsunoda led a Carlin one-two in a hot Formula 2 free practice session at Silverstone.

Tsunoda, who sits 12th in the standings after the opening three rounds, sat at the top of the timesheet for the majority of the sole practice session and finished with a 1m40.563s.

The 20-year-old’s session wasn’t all plain sailing as he spun and re-joined the circuit at Brooklands with around 10 minutes left on the clock, but the Japanese driver has topped three of the four practice sessions this season.

Tsunoda’s best effort was over four-tenths quicker than his team-mate Jehan Daruvala, who is one place behind Tsunoda in the points table.

Both Carlin drivers tested Dallara F317 cars at Silverstone prior to the F2’s delayed start as preparation for their racing return, and said the test had given them confidence going into this weekend.

MP Motorsport’s Felipe Drugovich ensured an all-rookie top three in the session, with Virtuosi Racing duo Callum Ilott and Guanyu Zhou – on pole at Silverstone last year -rounding out the top five.

DAMS’ Dan Ticktum was sixth-quickest ahead of Haas Formula 1 reserve driver Louis Deletraz (Charouz Racing System) and Hitech GP’s Nikita Mazepin.

The top 10 was rounded out by ART Grand Prix duo Christian Lundgaard and Marcus Armstrong, who both failed to score points at the previous round at the Hungaroring.

Ferrari junior Mick Schumacher beat his 2019 Prema team-mate Sean Gelael (DAMS) to 11th place, with series veteran Luca Ghiotto and championship leader Robert Shwartzman behind.

HWA Racelab’s Giuliano Alesi spun out of practice on the exit of the opening turns after just three completed laps.

Free practice results