Spain – FP1: Rosberg and the Mercedes set the pace

Here we go for this first session where test drivers are in the spotlight, with Susie Wolff replacing Valtteri Bottas at Williams-Mercedes and Jolyon Palmer replacing Romain Grosjean at Lotus-Mercedes. At Sauber, it’s Rafaelle Marciello who replaces Marcus Ericcson for the morning.

Problem for Daniel Ricciardo as he returns to the pits after 5 minutes of running, while Kimi Räikkönen works on a setup in the pit. It’s Nico Rosberg who records the fastest time of the morning with a lap of 1:31.039 on the Barcelona circuit after 8 minutes of running. Lewis Hamilton joins his teammate on the track, noticeably improving in each sector, but returns to the pit, keeping his time of 1:31.205.

A lot of wind in Montmelo today, after 15 minutes of running Will Stevens sets a time on his Manor at 1:37.732. Roberto Merhi sets a time at 1:38.649 on his home ground, meanwhile, his English teammate improves his time to 1:34.661. Susie Wolff takes the track for the first time this morning with her Williams, setting a time at 1:33.029.

Roberto Mehri improves his time to 1:34.188. Pastor Maldonado positions himself between the two Mercedes with a time of 1:31.162, while Jolyon Palmer places himself just ahead of Mehri’s Manor with a 1:33.110. Many drivers record lap times towards the end of the first half-hour in Barcelona. Sebastian Vettel sets the fastest time of the session at 1:28.141, despite encountering some difficulties under the watchful eyes of Esteban Gutierrez and Maurizio Arrivabene. However, the German’s time doesn’t hold as Lewis Hamilton reclaims the fastest time at 1:27.509, while Raffaele Marciello experiences an imbalance in his car, but without serious issues, the Italian is 13th with a 1:30.842.

Temporary yellow flag, Sergio Perez has a minor off-track excursion without consequence. Nico Rosberg sets the fastest time at 1:27.333. Daniil Kvyat records a lap time of 1:29.981. After 30 minutes of this free practice session, it’s Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton leading the session ahead of the Ferraris of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Räikkönen, with Carlos Sainz in the Toro Rosso rounding out the top 5. So far, Daniel Ricciardo has not recorded a time.

The drivers now begin their laps with a new set of hard tires for the remaining hour. We are 40 minutes from the end of this session; it’s Will Stevens, last, who returns to the track, accompanied by Roberto Mehri and Fernando Alonso, who starts a new timed lap, as well as Nico Hülkenberg, who takes to the track. Meanwhile, Pastor Maldonado rehydrates while watching the session in the Lotus motor-home. Nico Hülkenberg’s Force India improves his time to 1:29.403 and Fernando Alonso to 1:29.813. Carlos Sainz Jr improves his time to 1:28.408.

Sebastian Vettel does not improve his time and remains 3rd, Lewis Hamilton sets the fastest time at 1:26.898, Nico Rosberg does not improve and is relegated to 145 thousandths behind the Englishman.

We are in the final 30 minutes of the session, Kimi Räikkönen moves back up to 4th place, remaining one second behind Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes. However, the reigning world champion’s time has dropped, as Nico Rosberg records an excellent 1:26.828. Daniil Kvyat climbs with a 1:28.785. A slight scare for Lewis Hamilton as he goes off track, but without serious consequences.

There are 20 minutes left in this session, only Fernando Alonso is on track. Felipe Massa and Susie Wolff return to the track. Susie Wolff does not improve her time. With 15 minutes remaining, she climbs to 10th place. Felipe Nasr joins the track for these final minutes, followed by several drivers.

The Brazilian clocks a time of 1:29.140, placing him 9th while his teammate climbs to 11th place. Lewis Hamilton starts a lap most likely to test tire degradation for his last 11 minutes. All the drivers are on the track for these final 10 minutes except for Pastor Maldonado, Kimi Räikkönen, Daniil Kvyat, Felipe Nasr, and Fernando Alonso.

Ahead in the initial sectors, Sebastian Vettel could not displace the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. Daniel Ricciardo clocks his first timed lap in his Red Bull at 1:29.572 after two timed laps.

No improvement in the final minutes, Nico Rosberg sets the best time of the session ahead of Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel is 3rd followed by Kimi Räikkönen and Carlos Sainz Jr who delivers a notable performance on home soil.