Mercedes runs 1-2 in opening Austrian GP practice
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 |