EL1 in Baku: Bottas sets the pace, Verstappen in the wall

Valtteri Bottas confirms his current good form by setting the best time in the first free practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver is ahead of Daniel Ricciardo, winner last year, by barely 35 thousandths of a second at the end of a session marked by a new incident for Max Verstappen.

Published on 27/04/2018 à 12:43

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EL1 in Baku: Bottas sets the pace, Verstappen in the wall

By completing the 6,003 km of the Baku urban circuit in 1'44'242, the Finn erases the benchmark from Free Practice 1 2017 even if the driving sessions take place at different times this season. To note that Bottas evolved with the softest compound provided by Pirelli – Ultra-Tendre – when Ricciardo was riding on Super-Softs when signing his best brand with the Red Bull.

The gap with 3rd place is more than significant since a surprising Sergio Pérez is more than 8 tenths behind. The Mexican, author of a podium in Azerbaijan in 2016, precedes Lewis Hamilton and his teammate Esteban Ocon for a nice group shot from the Force India.

After having experienced a complicated start to the season – a spin in Australia, a crash in qualifying and a collision with Lewis Hamilton in Bahrain, a collision with Sebastian Vettel in China - Max Verstappen did not start his Azerbaijani weekend in the best possible way.

The Dutchman lost the rear of his RB14 approaching Turn 5 and then hit the protective barriers after just 30 minutes of driving. He is still credited with the 6th best time.

Fernando Alonso occupies an encouraging 7th place, however more than 2,2 seconds behind Bottas. Besides Force India, Williams also seems in better shape on the shores of the Caspian Sea since Sergey Sirotkin is in 8th place, three positions ahead Lance stroll, 3rd in the race in Baku last year.

Between the two FW41s slip Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso-Honda) and an unexpected Sebastian Vettel at the wheel of the highest ranked Ferrari. There Team did not really make the clock speak in EL1, Kimi Räikkönen failing in 15th position.

Apart from Verstappen's escape, no other major incident to report even if many drivers experienced serious wheel locks and other things going straight in the various escape routes on a still green city track. The second free session will start at 17:00 p.m. local time (15:00 p.m. in France).

Three Baku podium specialists in the top three in FP1

With @ ForceIndiaF1 looking strong

And Ferrari perhaps yet to show their hand properly…#F1 #AzerbaijanGP pic.twitter.com/z4gX9fp4Wz

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 27th