Published on : 08/07/2022 – 15:20Modified : 08/07/2022 – 15:18
Spielberg (Austria) (AFP) – Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) set the fastest time in the first free practice session of the Austrian Grand Prix, 11th round of the Formula 1 World Championship, on Friday at the Spielberg circuit.
On the unusually windy lands of Red Bull, the reigning world champion and provisional leader in the drivers’ championship completed the fastest lap of the session in 1 min 06 sec 302/1000th.
He is ahead of the Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) by 255/1000th and the Mercedes of Briton George Russell by 400/1000th.
The other Red Bull of the Mexican Sergio Pérez set the 4th time, ahead of the Briton Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes).
The winner of the last round in Great Britain last week, the Spaniard Carlos Sainz, is only 7th.
Valtteri Bottas, 14th on Friday, will leave for the GP on Sunday from the back of the grid following changing several parts on his power unit, exceeding the authorized quota.
Victim of a spectacular road trip in England, the Chinese Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo) did indeed participate in these first tests in Austria, failing in 18th position.
During this first session, the Briton Lando Norris was forced to retire following a technical problem with his single-seater, causing the first red flag of the session.
A second red flag came once more to interrupt the session, following flows observed on the track.
After this first free practice session, qualifying will follow at 5:00 p.m. local time (3:00 p.m. GMT).
The Austrian GP is the second of three races this season to feature a sprint race on Saturday, a format inaugurated last season.
With the sprint races, the classic qualifications (time trial) are therefore brought forward from Saturday to Friday. Their result defines the starting order of a race of around 30 minutes on Saturday, which itself defines the starting grid for the GP on Sunday.
Since the reintegration of the Austrian Grand Prix into the world championship, Verstappen has won there three times (2018, 2019, 2021), a record of victories which he shares with Alain Prost. But on the Spielberg route, the Dutchman has four successes since he also won the Styrian Grand Prix there last year (which then doubled with the Austrian GP).
. 1st free practice session:
1. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1:06.302 (34 tours)
2. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1:06.557 (32)
3. George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) 1:06.702 (32)
4. Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull) 1:06.839 (27)
5. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:06.909 (31)
Kevin Magnussen (DEN / Haas-Ferrari) 1: 06.965 (32)
7. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari) 1:07.039 (29)
8. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Alpine-Renault) 1:07.100 (32)
9. Mick Schumacher (GER/Haas-Ferrari) 1:07.246 (32)
10. Yuki Tsunoda (JPN / AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1: 07.296 (33)
11. Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:07.431 (26)
12. Esteban Ocon (FRA / Alpine-Renault) 1: 07.462 (27)
13. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:07.476 (29)
14. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo) 1:07.522 (27)
15. Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes) 1:07.582 (32)
16. Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1:07.592 (33)
17. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:07.743 (25)
18. Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo) 1:07.889 (28)
19. Nicholas Latifi (CAN/Williams-Mercedes) 1:08.149 (28)
20. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:09.915 (14)
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© 2022 AFP
