Giovinazzi confident of Q3 placing for Turkish GP after top-10 finish in FP2

Antonio Giovinazzi is a driver fighting for his F1 future. But the Italian showed promising pace in Free Practice 2 for the Turkish Grand Prix, leading Giovinazzi to target what would be a third Q3 appearance in the past four races at Istanbul Park.

Doubts continue to hang over Giovinazzi regarding his F1 future, with Alfa Romeo Team Principal Fred Vasseur admitting in Friday’s press conference that the team were in no rush to select the driver who would partner Valtteri Bottas at the team next year.

READ MORE: Vasseur says Alfa Romeo ‘not in a rush’ to name Bottas team mate for 2022

But Giovinazzi put that to the back of his mind to go 10th fastest in Free Practice 2 at Istanbul Park – much to the Italian’s pleasure.

“I think today was a positive Friday,” said Giovinazzi. “We found for sure conditions much better, much more grip compared to last year and it’s a lot better. It’s another track I enjoy a lot more now. Of course this is more easy to find something in the car, so we’ll see tomorrow.”

Such was Giovinazzi’s pace that the Alfa Romeo driver felt confident of claiming his third top 10 appearance in qualifying in the past four races – Giovinazzi having started the Dutch and Italian Grands Prix in P7 – as long as the weather held…

“To be honest we still have the question mark of the weather,” said Giovinazzi. “I think in the correct conditions like we saw already in Zandvoort and Monza, the speed is there, so I’m happy for our Friday today. I think the pace was good and we can do a good job tomorrow. I think if it is dry we can [make Q3], we just need to see if it is wet what we can do.”

FP2: Hamilton fends off Leclerc to set pace in second Turkish GP practice

It certainly wasn’t dry in Kimi Raikkonen’s Alfa Romeo C41 on Friday, with the Finn complaining of a leaking water bottle throughout FP2 which left drink dripping onto his feet – as you can see in the video below.