Home F1 Turkish GP: Hamilton tops FP1; takes 4th ICE, tests prototype gloves

Turkish GP: Hamilton tops FP1; takes 4th ICE, tests prototype gloves

08/10/2021

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton set the pace in FP1 of F1 Turkish GP ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

It was a straightforward and much smoother FP1 session of F1 Turkish GP weekend, with less complaints of grip issues unlike the last time. With a new Internal Combustion Engine, Mercedes’ Hamilton led the way with a 1m24.178s lap.

He is set for a 10-place grid drop as Mercedes will decide the future course of he needs other elements or not. Red Bull’s Verstappen (1m24.603s) was second, devoting his time on fine-tuning the car, with Ferrari’s Leclerc (1m24.654s) rounding the Top 3.

His teammate Carlos Sainz (1m24.860s) was fifth behind Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas (1m24.842s), with the Spaniard taking all the elements to start from back of the grid. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon (1m24.909s) was sixth from McLaren’s Lando Norris (1m25.347s).

The Top 10 then was rounded out by AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly (1m25.382s), Alpine’s Fernando Alonso (1m25.383s) and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez (1m25.459s), with Williams’ George Russell just on the cusp in 11th from McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo.

Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel was 13th from Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi after a late lap, which pushed Williams’ Nicholas Latifi to 15th and Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen to 16th. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was only 17th from AlphaTauri’s Yuku Tsunoda.

There was a moment between the Japanese and a Alfa driver for the former to swear, as the back of the grid was rounded out by Haas’ Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin. Among all, Ocon set his best time on hard, while Alonso and Ricciardo did so on medium.

Following on from what happened with Romain Grosjean in Bahrain GP, the FIA is testing a better heat resistant prototype gloves for research purpose. It is not to be tested in F1 practice of test sessions, but also in Formula E, WRC and also WEC.

For Turkish GP FP1, the FIA listed Hamilton, Vettel, Sainz, Ricciardo and Russell as the drivers testing the prototype gloves. Here’s the full statement from the governing body regarding the research work they are undertaking.

“Since the beginning of 2021, the FIA Safety Department has been conducting a research project with the target of improving the heat transmission protection of the drivers’ gloves. The specific changes in glove specification required to achieve this increased protection must be balanced with the levels of comfort and dexterity required to operate the car safely and for extended periods.

“It is considered that any effects of the specification changes on comfort or dexterity can only be evaluated effectively during track testing. Article 2 “Flame-resistant clothing” of Chapter III “Drivers’ Equipment” of Appendix L to the International Sporting Code states that F1 drivers must wear FIA-approved gloves in accordance with FIA Standard 8856 2018. However, in March 2017 the WMSC approved a proposal which defines a process by which authorization may be given by the FIA for the use of prototype safety equipment during official testing sessions.

“These products are by definition innovative and so cannot yet be homologated until the regulation is approved by WMSC. The Safety Commission members have recently approved by majority vote a waiver for the prototype gloves, described above, to be used during official and private test sessions of Formula 1, Formula E, World Rally Championship and World Endurance Championship events, for the specific purpose of research.

“It is noted that under the conditions of the waiver approved by the Safety Commission, the usage of such gloves must be under the direct control of the FIA Safety Department. This has been confirmed by the FIA Safety Delegate for the event.”