Barcelona FP1: Max sixth in first RBR outing

Published on 13 May 2016 by Stefan Meens

After a busy week in which Max Verstappen switched from Scuderia Toro Rosso to Red Bull Racing, Max opened his RBR account with P6 in FP1 of the Spanish Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel lapped the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya quickest, followed by his team mate Kimi Raikkonen and the two Mercedes in third and fourth.

“I'm very happy with the first free practice sessions”, explained Max to Verstappen.nl. “We took our time to work through our programme and we got everything that was planned done. We've gone through all procedures well and had a good practice start”, said the Dutchman who felt at ease in his new car. “The first feeling was good and positive. I feel at home in this car.”

With the eyes of the whole F1 paddock in his direction, Max Verstappen headed out for his first laps in the RB12 at the start of FP1. The youngster completed his installation lap and first stint on the hard orange-walled Pirelli compound. Initially the nose of Verstappen's car featured data measuring equipment. However after a few laps, the 18-year-old returned to the team for a fresh conventional nose to start his scheduled programme.

Max's first timed lap brings him P7, followed by a small lock-up as he starts a long run on the hard tyres. Halfway through the session, Max is still in seventh. Both Red Bulls are now in the garage with the mechanics working on both cars' brakes. Eventually both Max and Daniel Ricciardo are ready to head back out.

Both drivers have now switched to the medium tyre and it shows in their lap times. The RBR duo improve their personal bests considerably and align in fifth and sixth on the timing tables.

All in all, it is a fairly uneventful practice session with only Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon being limited by technical issues. Fifteen minutes before the end, Max heads out one final time for a run on the mediums. He is unable to improve his lap time which means that after 29 laps, the youngster finishes FP1 in P6.

Spanish Grand Prix - Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya - Friday 13 May

RESULTS FREE PRACTICE 1
 P No Driver             Team          Time       Gap     Laps
 1  5 Sebastian Vettel   Ferrari       1:23.951             22
 2  7 Kimi Räikkönen     Ferrari       1:24.089   +0.138s   18
 3  6 Nico Rosberg       Mercedes      1:24.454   +0.503s   34
 4 44 Lewis Hamilton     Mercedes      1:24.611   +0.660s   33
 5  3 Daniel Ricciardo   Red Bull      1:25.416   +1.465s   25
 6 33 Max Verstappen     Red Bull      1:25.585   +1.634s   29
 7 77 Valtteri Bottas    Williams      1:25.672   +1.721s   36
 8 55 Carlos Sainz       Toro Rosso    1:26.078   +2.127s   19
 9 19 Felipe Massa       Williams      1:26.186   +2.235s   32
10 14 Fernando Alonso    McLaren       1:26.243   +2.292s   18
11 20 Kevin Magnussen    Renault       1:26.576   +2.625s   30
12 26 Daniil Kvyat       Toro Rosso    1:26.583   +2.632s   21
13 27 Nico Hulkenberg    Force India   1:26.938   +2.987s   27
14 11 Sergio Perez       Force India   1:27.064   +3.113s    9
15 12 Felipe Nasr        Sauber        1:27.253   +3.302s   27
16  8 Romain Grosjean    Haas          1:27.258   +3.307s   17
17 21 Esteban Gutierrez  Haas          1:27.283   +3.332s   18
18  9 Marcus Ericsson    Sauber        1:27.392   +3.441s   24
19 22 Jenson Button      McLaren       1:27.610   +3.659s   19
20 94 Pascal Wehrlein    Manor         1:28.084   +4.133s   29
21 88 Rio Haryanto       Manor         1:29.052   +5.101s   34
22 45 Esteban Ocon       Renault                             6 

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