Max Verstappen second in first free practice Austria

Published on 07 July 2017 by Mike Motilall

Max Verstappen started the Grand Prix-weekend in Austria off with an excellent second place during the first practice session. The Dutchman was from the word go, up to par and ultimately only just some two tenths of a second off the pace of Lewis Hamilton, who, so happen, broke the lap record at the Red Bull Ring with a 1:05.975.

Under a bright shining sun, the first free practice kicks off on the Red Bull Ring. Many drivers get on track, at the beginning of the session, for only an installation lap. As oppose to the others, Max Verstappen immediately goes for a long stint on the soft compound tyres and is the first to get a time on the clock this weekend with a 1:08.429.

With over an hour to go, Kimi Raikkonen is back to front with his Ferrari at turn one. The Fin is able to continue on with a destroyed set of tyres. Not much later, his team mate Sebastian Vettel is quickly to follow suit. After having driven backwards for a bit, the leader in the standings manages to get his Ferrari back on track.

By now, Max has gone back on track with, once again, a set of the softs and manages to better his time to a 1:07.380. Good enough for fourth at that moment. But even Verstappen spins off track. In turn seven, the Dutchman takes a trip through the gravel trap with his RB13. “I brushed the wall”, he tells his team on the radio before heading back to the pits.

As Verstappen is in the Red Bull Racing-garage, other drivers also spin off track and Romain Grosjean punctures his left front tyre. Lewis Hamilton clocks the fastest ever lap time on the Red Bull Ring with a 1:05.975.

With still ten minutes remaining, Verstappen heads back out again. This time round, the super-softs have been strapped on to his RB13. The youngster is quick on track and ultimately does a 1:06.165, the second fastest time and just 0.19 seconds off  Lewis’ pace. In his final flying lap, Max is even faster, but unfortunately he spins at turn three, the tight corner puts him second. Valtteri Bottas finishes third, behind of him.

Austrian Grand Prix – Red Bull Ring – Friday 7 July

RESULTS FREE PRACTICE ONE

01 44 Lewis Hamilton      Mercedes                    1:05.975          38
02 33 Max Verstappen      Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer   1:06.165 +0.190s  23
03 77 Valtteri Bottas     Mercedes                    1:06.345 +0.370s  35
04  5 Sebastian Vettel    Ferrari                     1:06.424 +0.449s  28
05  3 Daniel Ricciardo    Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer   1:06.620 +0.645s  32
06  7 Kimi Räikkönen      Ferrari                     1:06.848 +0.873s  24
07  2 Stoffel Vandoorne   McLaren Honda               1:07.283 +1.308s  31
08 26 Daniil Kvyat        Toro Rosso                  1:07.437 +1.462s  31
09 14 Fernando Alonso     McLaren Honda               1:07.510 +1.535s  28
10 31 Esteban Ocon        Force India Mercedes        1:07.511 +1.536s  39
11 19 Felipe Massa        Williams Mercedes           1:07.550 +1.575s  29
12 20 Kevin Magnussen     Haas Ferrari                1:07.594 +1.619s  30
13 55 Carlos Sainz        Toro Rosso                  1:07.633 +1.658s  32
14 30 Jolyon Palmer       Renault                     1:07.649 +1.674s  31
15 18 Lance Stroll        Williams Mercedes           1:08.041 +2.066s  35
16  8 Romain Grosjean     Haas Ferrari                1:08.074 +2.099s  20
17 46 Sergey Sirotkin     Renault                     1:08.586 +2.611s  27
18 34 Alfonso Celis       Force India Mercedes        1:09.280 +3.305s  15
19 94 Pascal Wehrlein     Sauber Ferrari              1:09.323 +3.348s  29
20  9 Marcus Ericsson     Sauber Ferrari              1:10.853 +4.878s  12

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