France – Free Practice 1: Mercedes dances, Ferrari limps
The Mercedes sign the fastest time in this first free practice session on the French track. Hamilton finished this session ahead of his teammate Bottas. Leclerc is in 3rd position, more than 3 tenths behind the Mercedes.
It is under a big and beautiful sun that the first free practice session begins at Castellet, where the track conditions are quite good with 24°C in the air and 42°C on the ground.
The teams will have, for this Grand Prix weekend, the choice between ultra-soft, soft, and medium tires.
Decisions, decisions…#F1 #FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/jDHoqfQuHw
— Formula 1 (@F1) 21 juin 2019
It’s Giovinazzi who opens the ballet, but the first time is set by Sainz at 1:35:909. Note that, as in Canada, Nicholas Latifi takes the wheel of the Williams, this time in place of George Russell.
Charles Leclerc, after 15 minutes of testing, is already observing graining on his front tires with red sidewalls, the softest compound available this weekend at the Paul Ricard circuit. Vettel declares on the radio: “Impossible to chain two consecutive laps with these tires,” which worries the teams for the rest of the weekend as most of them have bet on this compound.
Kvyat’s off-track excursion after 20 minutes of testing, spinning at turn #5, let down by his rear end.
Steady, Dany…#F1 #FrenchGP 🇫🇷 @kvyatofficial pic.twitter.com/0TXCbUMDP1
— Formula 1 (@F1) 21 juin 2019
After half an hour of the session, the Mercedes cars finally hit the track and set the pace as Bottas quickly records the fastest time. All drivers have now taken to the asphalt. After almost 40 minutes of testing, Gasly sets the second fastest time, while Grosjean is far from the leaders’ times as he is only 17th at this stage of the session. As the session progresses, the tires seem to be suffering less. Reaching the halfway point of the session, all drivers are in the pits, with Bottas having set the fastest time before this common break.
Lando Norris sets the fastest time 30 minutes before the end of the session, followed, just over a tenth behind, by the Frenchman Pierre Gasly. Bottas takes the fastest time, Gasly and Hamilton battle for the 2nd position.
Finally, Hamilton sets the best time closely followed by his teammate, with the Ferraris and Red Bulls following, Vettel slotting in between the two Red Bulls. Vettel is not comfortable with his car at the start of the weekend, as the new front wing brought by Ferrari does not seem to be working optimally. On the French side, Grosjean ends the session early with the slowest time.
FP1 at Paul Ricard = DONE ✅
And it’s @LewisHamilton who topped the time sheets ⏱️#F1 #FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/mUkdLjqI1W
— Formula 1 (@F1) 21 juin 2019
