FP2

FP2, or Free Practice 2, is the second practice session during a motorsport race weekend where drivers and teams test their cars and gather important data before qualifying and the race.

In most racing series like Formula 1, a typical race weekend includes multiple practice sessions to help teams prepare. FP2 usually takes place on Friday afternoon and lasts for one hour. Think of it like a rehearsal before a big performance—drivers aren't racing against each other yet, but they're getting ready for when it really counts.

During Free Practice 2, teams have several important goals. They need to understand how their car handles on that specific track, since every circuit is different. Some tracks have long straights where top speed matters most, while others have tight corners where handling is key. Teams adjust things like the car's wings (aerodynamics), suspension stiffness, and brake settings to match what the track demands.

Drivers use FP2 to learn the racing line—the fastest path around the track—and to build confidence with their car's behavior. They'll do some short, fast laps to simulate qualifying conditions, where every tenth of a second matters. They'll also do longer runs with more fuel to see how the car performs in race-like conditions, when it's heavier and tires start to wear out.

The lap times you see during FP2 don't determine starting positions or award any points. Instead, this session is all about collecting information. Engineers monitor tire wear patterns, fuel consumption rates, and how different setup changes affect the car's speed and handling. This data becomes the foundation for decisions made throughout the rest of the weekend.

Teams often experiment during Free Practice 2. They might try different tire compounds (soft, medium, or hard) to see which works best. They could test new parts or compare different setup configurations. Sometimes a driver will intentionally try something unusual just to understand how the car responds.

On special sprint race weekends, the schedule changes and there's only one practice session (FP1) instead of the usual three. This makes that single practice session even more critical, as teams have less time to prepare.

Free Practice 2 is particularly valuable because it usually happens at a similar time of day to qualifying and the race. Track conditions like temperature and grip levels can change dramatically throughout the day, so practicing when conditions match what you'll face later gives you the most relevant information.