Gravel turns into bed, colliding and a forced break after the collision: During the first free practice session at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Friday, Formula 1 drivers still had to contend with adjustment problems on the circuit at Imola.
The final information about the balance of power in the duel between world champion Lewis Hamilton and challenger Max Verstappen could only be obtained to a limited extent in a short 15-minute session – the top stars being separated by 17 hundredths of a second.
Red Bull team boss Horner speaks of contact between Perez and Okon
The cause of the blockage was an accident. Red Bull driver Sergio Perez (Mexico) roars after a puncture at Villainuve Chicken.
The Alpine driver Esteban Ocon (France), who followed him, also had to park his car. According to Red Horn team boss Christian Horner, there was contact between the two cars.
Botas with fastest time – Ferrari strong
Mercedes driver Valteri Bottas set the best time in cold temperatures in 1: 16.564 minutes. Finn was ahead of his teammates Hamilton (1: 16.605) and Verstappen (1: 16.622). Ferrari made a good impression in the home game, with Charles Lechler (+0.23) fourth and Carlos Sainz (+0.32) sixth.
Schumacher behind Vettel – Mazepin in 14th place
Sebastian Vettel (+1.42) finished training in 14th place at Aston Martin. Rookie Mick Schumacher (+2.91) was 19th in Haas, his teammate Nikita Masepin (+2.25).
Nevertheless, the Russian was one of the losers in training. Masepin, who was ruled out on the first lap after the season opener’s mistake in Bahrain, landed in the gravel trap at the start of practice. At the end of the session, he again turned and touched the wall.
Results of 1 free exercise at a glance
1. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Mercedes 1: 16.564, 2. Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain) Mercedes 1: 16.605, 3. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Red Bull-Honda 1: 16.622, 4. Charles Lalser (Monaco) Ferrari 1: 16.796, 5th Pierre Galli (France) Alfatouri-Honda 1: 16.888, 6th Carlos Sainz Jr. (Spain) Ferrari 1: 16.888, 7th Fernando Alonso (Spain) Alpine-Renault 1: 17.457, 8th Lance Stroke (Canada) Aston Martin-Mercedes 1: 17.489, 9th Nicholas Latifi (Canada) Williams-Mercedes 1: 17.739 , 10. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) McLaren-Mercedes 1: 17.769, 11. George Russell (Great Britain) Williams-Mercedes 1: 17.866, 12. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Alfa Romeo-Ferrari 1: 17.883, 13. Lando Norris (Great Britain) McLaren-Mercedes 1: 17.935, 14th Sebastian Vettel (Heppenheim) Aston Martin-Mercedes 1: 17.984, 15th Antonio Giovinazzi (Italy) Alfa Romeo-Ferrari 1: 18.058, 16th Sergio Perez (Mexico) Red Bull-Honda 1: 18.228, 17.228 Estebon Ocon (France) Alpine-Renault 1: 18.360, 18th Nikita Masepin (Russia) Haas-Ferrari 1: 18.823, 19th Mick Schumacher (Granth / Switzerland) Haas-Ferrari 1: 19.480, 20th Yuki Tsunoda ( Japan) Alphatouri-Honda 1: 19.781
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