Mercedes runs 1-2 in opening Austrian GP practice

Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton in his black Mercedes

Putting their superior Mercedes car, now with black livery, to good use, Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas were easily 1-2 in the opening practice session for the Austrian GP.

No one else was even close.

Hamilton's lap of 1m04.816s was 0.356s faster than Bottas with both setting their fast times on the soft Pirellis.

Max Verstappen was third quick for Red Bull, but he was a whopping 0.602s back. Point of note – Red Bull has “raised questions" and asked the FIA for “clarification" over Mercedes’ use of its controversial Dual Axis Steering system at Formula 1’s season-opening Austrian Grand Prix.

Carlos Sainz Jr in the McLaren and Sergio Perez in the 'pink' Mercedes rounded out the top-5.

Practice 1 Results

POS DRIVER NAT. TEAM TIME
1 Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes AMG Petronas 1m 04.816
2 Valtteri Bottas FIN Mercedes AMG Petronas 1m 05.172
3 Max Verstappen NED Aston Martin Red Bull 1m 05.418
4 Carlos Sainz Jr. ESP McLaren F1 Team 1m 05.431
5 Sergio Perez MEX BWT Racing Point F1 Team 1m 05.512
6 Lando Norris GBR McLaren F1 Team 1m 05.621
7 Alexander Albon THA Aston Martin Red Bull 1m 05.701
8 Daniel Ricciardo AUS Renault F1 Team 1m 05.860
9 Kevin Magnussen DEN Haas F1 Team 1m 05.907
10 Charles Leclerc MON Scuderia Ferrari 1m 05.924
11 Lance Stroll CAN BWT Racing Point F1 Team 1m 06.074
12 Sebastian Vettel GER Scuderia Ferrari 1m 06.077
13 Esteban Ocon FRA Renault F1 Team 1m 06.270
14 Antonio Giovinazzi ITA Alfa Romeo Racing Orlen 1m 06.360
15 Kimi Raikkonen FIN Alfa Romeo Racing Orlen 1m 06.365
16 Pierre Gasly FRA Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda 1m 06.404
17 George Russell GBR Williams Racing 1m 06.495
18 Nicholas Latifi CAN Williams Racing 1m 06.906
19 Daniil Kvyat RUS Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda 1m 06.943
20 Romain Grosjean FRA Haas F1 Team No Time