Gasly sets the pace in EL1 at Silverstone

These are only Free Practice 1 of the British Grand Prix but there is no doubt that Pierre Gasly will enjoy reading the first Silverstone time sheet. The Frenchman, in full doubt in recent weeks, took the best mark on Friday morning with a time of 1'27''173 achieved with Pirelli's Soft tires. 

The pilot Red Bull anticipate the Mercedes de Valtteri Bottas of 0”456, while his teammate Max Verstappen completes the Top 3, more than eight tenths behind. In front of an audience largely won over to his cause, Lewis Hamilton, must be satisfied with the 4th time. in opening.

The Ferrari point to a big second: Charles Leclerc et Sebastian Vettel emerge in 5th and 6th place respectively. THE Renault place themselves in ambush for the second home race of the Jaunes-et-Noirs. Nico Hulkenberg is 7th, one place and two tenths ahead Daniel Ricciardo. The first half of the table is completed by the Toro Rosso of the Thai born in London Alexander albon and McLaren de Carlos Sainz.

Further on, very complicated session for Romain Grosjean, spun as soon as he left the pits. The Frenchman hit the safety rail and lost his front wing in the process. Let us recall that its Haas VF-19 is configured as it was at the start of the year in Melbourne in the hope of resolving the chronic problems plaguing the American team this season.

Grosjean finished only 19th, less than two tenths from his garage neighbor Kevin Magnussen, 16th with the latest Haas aerodynamic package, and a place behind theAlfa Romeo of Kimi Räikkönen, victim of an engine problem mid-session and limited to 12 laps. Grosjean ranks 3''638 behind the reference time established by his compatriot Gasly, who dominates a session F1 for the first time in his young career.

Note that a little British rain was invited during these FP1. The track was declared “WET” by race management, so several teams, including Mercedes and Ferrari, took the opportunity to pass a set of intermediate tires which they will be able to recover later in the weekend