the Dutch Max Verstappen (Red Bull), championship leader, was fastest this Friday in the first free practice for the Spanish Grand Prixthe seventh in the world Formula 1, which takes place at the Montmeló circuit (Barcelona); where the locals Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) e Charles Sainz (Ferrari) were sixth and ninth fastest respectively.
In the best of his 31 laps, Verstappen covered the 4,675 meters of the Circuit de Catalunya in one minute, fourteen seconds and 606 thousandths, 768 less than his teammate, the Mexican Sergio Perezwho is second in the World Cup, 39 points out of the 144 with which he leads ‘Mad Max’ -who is aiming for the third consecutive title-, who has set the same times as the Dutchman and, like him, set his best time with the soft rubber.
The French Esteban Ocon (Alpine), who had closed in that position last Sunday in Monaco, signed the third time -8 tenths of a second behind- of a session that passed without major incidents and in which everyone set their best times with the soft compound .
Alonso, who comes from being second in Monaco and who seeks his 33rd F1 win -ten years after his thirty-second, in this same scenario-, he recorded sixth place in the timesheets of a session that ended in 25 degrees Celsius ambient and 42 on hard; and with the sky overcast, with clouds threatening rain.
The two-times world champion from Asturias – third in the championship and causing a stir at the beginning of the season, with five podiums in the first six races, aged 41 – repeated the track where he also won in 2006 24 times; AND it remained at nine-tenths of the “Mad Max” record, which takes him by 51 points in the contest.
Sainz finished ninth. The talented driver from Madrid, who aspires to score his first podium at Montmeló in a season that didn’t start like this Ferrari would have liked, turned 27 times; and in his best lap he was one second and one tenth from his first teammate in F1 (in 2015 and on board a Toro Rosso, currently Alpha Tauri).
The second free practice sessions will start at 12:00.
Source: EFE
Source: Clarin
Jason Root is the go-to source for sports coverage at News Rebeat. With a passion for athletics and an in-depth knowledge of the latest sports trends, Jason provides comprehensive and engaging analysis of the world of sports.