Mercedes started the F1 French GP in good shape as Lewis Hamilton topped the first free practice session ahead of Valtteri Bottas.
Having missed the media day, Hamilton made a good start in FP1 of F1 French GP at Circuit Paul Ricard, with the quickest time of 1m32.738s from teammate Bottas (1m32.807s) – the duo only 0.069s apart, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (1m33.111s) in third.
It wasn’t a smooth run though for the Mercedes drivers as they had their off moments in the session, while Ferrari drivers struggled with the front tyres, as did many others. Leclerc’s teammate Sebastian Vettel was fifth with a 1m33.790s.
The German slotted behind Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen (1m33.618s) with Pierre Gasly (1m34.091s) in sixth. The Ferrari drives tested a new-spec front wing, which they hope will bring some solution to their co-relation issues.
Meanwhile, like Mercedes, both the Red Bull drivers also had some moments. The best of the rest mantle went to the two McLaren drivers with Lando Norris (1m34.110s) in seventh ahead of Carlos Sainz (1m34.261s) with Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo (1m34.540s) in ninth.
The Australian is running the Spec 3 engine, while Nico Hulkenberg is on the old one. The Top 10, meanwhile, was completed by Toro Rosso’s Alexander Albon (1m34.804s) – the Thai on Spec 2 unit unlike other Honda drivers on Spec 3.
It was a better session for the two Racing Point drivers with Sergio Perez (1m34.809s) in 11th and Lance Stroll (1m35.063s) 13th as Renault’s Hulkenberg (1m34.810s) was sandwiched in between. Both the Racing Point drivers ran only the medium compound.
Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat (1m35.326s) slotted in 14th despite having an early spin with Haas’ Kevin Magnussen (1m35.410s) only 15th ahead of the Alfa Romeo Racing drivers Kimi Raikkonen (1m35.522s) and Antonio Giovinazzi (1m36.102s).
The Williams duo weren’t at the bottom with reserve driver Nicholas Latifi (1m37.147s) in 18th in George Russell’s car from Robert Kubica (1m37.172s) as Haas’ Romain Grosjean (1m37.620s) was sidelined with just nine laps due to a water leak.
