Russian GP | Leclerc fends off Verstappen in FP1 as Ricciardo hits the barrier
Charles Leclerc ends FP1 on top in Sochi, being 0.082s clear of Verstappen. Both drivers set their times on the Soft tyre. Daniel Ricciardo hit the barrier at the end of the session, damaging his rear wing.
Leclerc came out on top in FP1, fending off Max Verstappen by 0.082s, both on Soft tyres. Record times in S1 and S2 belong to the Monegasque, whereas Max Verstappen had the upper hand in the final sector.
Vettel stands in P3, over half a second off the pace but two and four tenths ahead of Bottas and Hamilton. After an early flier on Soft, the Mercedes drivers went out on the Medium tyre. Valtteri Bottas was thwarted at the end of the session by a problem on his rear wing, and shortly after Ricciardo spun and hit the barriers with the rear of his car at Turn 10. In addition to such rear wing woes, Lewis Hamilton was reported to have brake issues in the early stages of the session.
Both Renaults are currently looking strong in P7 and P8, with Hulkenberg standing a little over two tenths behind Red Bull’s Alex Albon. The tight midfield contention intensifies, as Perez finished the session, only 0.034s off Ricciardo. Also Grosjean, Sainz and Gasly set a time of 1’36’’5, as the Frenchman managed to get into the Top-10 this morning.
Home hero Daniil Kvyat suffered an early stoppage, as he lamented on the radio that his engine was ‘gone’. His Toro Rosso was pushed back to the garage and ended FP1 in P19, having set a 1’38’’550 at the beginning of the session.
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 27, 2019 " rel="general">
CLASSIFICATION: END OF FP1
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 27, 2019
Less than a tenth between Leclerc and Verstappen in first practice on Friday morning at Sochi ⏱️
And the Mercedes drivers have a bit to find with the top three 👀#RussianGP 🇷🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/e4UDv9AZVr
