“It at all times comes right down to the identical, which is getting essentially the most out of the tyres,” he mentioned.
“I feel we tried some issues, me and Kimi [Antonelli] did some various things which was invaluable to try to be taught. I feel we received a little bit of a course from that.
“I used to be intrigued to see the long-run tempo however sadly with the purple flag [after Yuki Tsunoda’s crash] on the finish we didn’t handle to see that. I feel it’ll be a detailed battle once more for the following finest staff and hopefully we are able to try to sneak up there, however McLaren are excellent once more.”
WATCH: Tsunoda crash brings out the red flags during FP2 in Saudi Arabia
Mercedes staff mate Kimi Antonelli had a number of moments on Friday which included taking to the run-off areas and even clouting the wall on the exit of the final nook, albeit carrying on with no injury.
The younger Italian completed thirteenth and eleventh respectively as he received to grips with the high-speed circuit however believes there have been encouraging indicators to take from the opening day of observe.
“Fairly a tough day, clearly it is about looking for each element as a result of it’s not a straightforward monitor and it’s actually vital to put the automobile very effectively, particularly in sector one, however total I feel was fairly optimistic,” he mentioned.
“I feel FP2 was trying fairly good, I used to be feeling good, particularly on the medium and on the delicate I did a mistake on lap one and clearly the tyre didn’t maintain on as they might have. However total I feel a optimistic day and searching ahead to tomorrow.”
