Japan – Free Practice 1: Vettel Leads Hamilton, Sainz Destroys His Toro Rosso
The gloomy weather did not hinder the motivation of the drivers this Friday morning, especially not Sebastian Vettel's, who clocked the best time ahead of Hamilton and Ricciardo. The rain, though threatening, ended up cutting the session short by a few minutes. The session was interrupted for about fifteen minutes following a crash by Carlos Sainz, compromising his participation in this afternoon's session.
The rain spares Suzuka this morning at the start of this first practice session of the weekend, but it’s not all sunshine, as the blue sky is not even visible. The most courageous European spectators have chosen to attend this session, but it’s a struggle!
“OK – wake me up when it’s time to have a go on that big wheel” 🎡😂#JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 #FP1 pic.twitter.com/KcQPz2zhfs
— Formula 1 (@F1) 6 octobre 2017
At the green light, the drivers almost rush to get on the track to grab some dry track time. During the installation lap, Räikkönen is particularly aggressive and overtakes the drivers in his path. On the Mercedes and Red Bull side, they seem very determined in these first minutes because after 7 minutes Hamilton, Bottas, Ricciardo, and Verstappen – in that order – have already completed flying laps.
With softer rubber, the Red Bulls are also lower on the track, the floors are being worn down at the start of the weekend, causing a multitude of sparks. At the sister team, Toro Rosso, Pierre Gasly waits next to his car while a new seat and the Halo are being installed, as persistent raindrops appear on the pit straight.
Author of a provisional best time, Valtteri Bottas places two wheels on the grass approaching the first corner; the Finn seems to have forgotten that his car is wider this season.
Did Bottas not notice the track edge moved right?
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Blog: https://t.co/LLPfpKp7NA #SkyF1 #JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/O86XH791uK— Sky Sports F1 🏎 (@SkySportsF1) 6 octobre 2017
As the first third of the session approaches, only Alonso is missing from the timings, the Spaniard stayed in his garage for a long time following his installation lap. The wait seems to pay off as in a single attempt he records a time five-tenths faster than Vandoorne, who made several attempts.
Standings after the first third of the session: Ricciardo reclaimed the fastest time with 1:29.541 ahead of Hamilton, Bottas, Räikkönen, and Vettel. Verstappen is 6th ahead of Alonso, Ocon, Hülkenberg, and Massa to complete the top 10. Beyond that, we find Vandoorne, Pérez, Palmer, Sainz, Stroll, Gasly. Grosjean, Magnussen, Wehrlein, and Ericsson bring up the rear.
Squared off in the exit of Degner 2, Bottas still manages to improve his mark to get 0.610 behind Ricciardo and 0.109 behind Hamilton. Also on super-softs, the Briton takes the provisional best time with 1:29.377.
At the other end of the circuit, going too fast in Spoon, Verstappen has to visit the side of the circuit. He is the first to make a real excursion outside the track limits. More in form, Sebastian Vettel displays the good condition of the Ferrari by placing himself four hundredths of a second behind Lewis Hamilton’s best time, with the German on soft tires compared to number 44’s super-soft tires.
Steady, Max 😣#JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 #FP1 pic.twitter.com/NcDiFgQGEn
— Formula 1 (@F1) 6 octobre 2017
Behind the top 6, the positions are highly contested as usual. This Friday morning, the Renaults, McLarens, and Haas are battling to secure better spots. At this moment, Hülkenberg, Alonso, Vandoorne, and Magnussen are in the top 10, while Grosjean and Palmer are eleventh and twelfth.
A yellow flag is waved in sector 2 and the Toro Rosso of Carlos Sainz is discovered sideways at the exit of the hairpin with a destroyed front end. The red flag is out to allow for the removal of the car, and he exits the vehicle under his own power. On re-acceleration, the Spaniard placed two wheels slightly outside the curb, on the dirty green strip where water may have accumulated.
RED FLAG: Session halted as SAI hits the barriers after Turn 11
Big impact but he’s jumped out and is ok 👍#JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 #FP1 pic.twitter.com/a8CIWCstZ4
— Formula 1 (@F1) 6 octobre 2017
Less than 23 minutes from the end, the session resumes, and there is a rush for Ricciardo, Hülkenberg, the McLarens, and Grosjean to take advantage of the last laps on dry track as the rain intensifies.
A lap onboard with Fernando Alonso highlights a struggling Honda engine that fails to reach 300km/h exiting the 130R. Sebastian Vettel, on the other hand, is well-inspired on his lap and records the fastest time of the session at 1:29.166, two-tenths ahead of his British rival.
In retreat since the beginning of the session, Esteban Ocon jumps up in the rankings to place 7th, pushing Alonso’s McLaren out of the top 10. Sergio Pérez is 13th. After moving up to 11th place, Magnussen is instructed to return slowly to the pits due to a detected engine problem.
10 MINUTES TO GO
VET jumps to P1 with a 1:29.166 🔥#JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 #FP1 pic.twitter.com/qvhQ0EQrL0
— Formula 1 (@F1) 6 octobre 2017
The last ten minutes are dedicated to racing relays, which are quite quickly shortened by rain that makes the grip too precarious to continue on slicks.
The final ranking at the end of the session:
INITIAL CLASSIFICATION: END OF FP1#JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/6agNoomUEL
— Formula 1 (@F1) 6 octobre 2017
