2023-06-02 15:59:05
The Dutchman edged out teammate Sergio Pérez and Frenchman Esteban Ocon.
Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) set the fastest time in the first free practice session of the Spanish Grand Prix, seventh round of the Formula 1 World Championship, on Friday at the Circuit de Catalunya (4.657 km) in Montmeló .
The reigning double world champion largely dominated his competitors since he beat his Mexican teammate Sergio Pérez de and the French Esteban Ocon (Alpine), third Sunday of the Monaco Grand Prix, respectively by 768 and 814 thousandths.
Like several teams, Red Bull, which is flying over the season, has decided to bring new things to its car in Spain with a slightly modified floor and diffuser. The first laps in Catalonia seem to indicate that these developments are positive.
Dutchman Nyck de Vries (AlphaTauri-Red Bull) surprised everyone by setting the fourth fastest time ahead of Frenchman Pierre Gasly (Alpine).
Local hero Fernando Alonso, who is capturing the attention of fans and the Spanish media, set the sixth fastest time at the wheel of his Aston Martin, while Dane Kevin Magnussen (Haas-Ferrari) was seventh.
Ferrari, which introduced several new features to its car for this Spanish Grand Prix, carried out tests during this first session. Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who drove the new version of the SF-23, took ninth place, just behind his Monaco teammate Charles Leclerc, who used the same car as in the race in Monaco last Sunday.
Mercedes, which had notably presented new pontoons in the Principality, will try to understand the true potential of its single-seaters on the more traditional circuit of Montmeló. The first free practice session will certainly have brought some answers, even if the tenth and twelfth times of the British George Russell and Lewis Hamilton remain anecdotal.
The second free practice session is scheduled for Friday at 5:00 p.m. local time.
. 1st free practice session:
Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1:14.606
Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull) 1:15.374
Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1:15.418
Nyck de Vries (NED/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1:15.504
Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1:15.545
Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:15.547
Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) 1:15.689
Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1:15.694
Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari) 1:15.726
George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) 1:15.753
Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:15.783
Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:15.845
Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari ) 1:15.906
Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1:15.915
Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:15.939
Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo Ferrari) 1:15.978
Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:16.353
Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Haas-Ferrari) 1:16.461
Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams-Mercedes) 1:16.506
Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes) 1:16.630
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