Baku FP1: Verstappen"s track time limited by technical issue
Published on 17 June 2016 by Stefan Meens
The first free practice session of the Azerbaijani Grand Prix did not go to plan for Max Verstappen. The Red Bull Racing driver lapped the brand new Baku street circuit only seven times after a technical problem halted the Dutchman’s running. He therefore only managed P16 (1:50.485). Lewis Hamilton was the quickest man in the streets of the Azerbaijani capital, clocking a 1:46.435. His Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg and Valtteri Bottas in the Williams completed the top three.
“It all felt good despite the track being slippery and only doing three proper laps”, explained Max. “The layout of the track corresponds well with Red Bull’s simulator. Only the grip was different but the sim provides a good reference point.”
Nevertheless, the Dutchman is keen to make up the lost track time later on in FP2. “We’ve found the issue so hopefully it’s solved and we can get a lot of track time in the second free practice session.”
Esteban Gutierrez is the first driver to steer a Formula 1 car on to the ‘fastest street circuit in the world’ – as the event is labelled. All the drivers take it easy to get acquainted with the new track. Rosberg is the first to set a time.
Max, after completing an installation lap, heads out on track fifteen minutes into the session. After clocking a 1:50.4, smoke appears from the right rear of his RB12. The Dutchman is prompted to return to the pits. There, the mechanics and engineers conclude the problem is too big too solve in the remaining time, relegating Max to be a spectator for the rest of FP1.
Gutierrez was not only the first driver on the new Baku City Circuit, but also the first one to go off it. The Mexican outbrakes himself into turn 15 but is able to resume his session without any issues. The Haas F1 driver is in good company as Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and Scuderia Torro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat have similar excursions at turn 15. Both escape without damage to their cars.
The same cannot be said of Daniel Ricciardo. Max Verstappen’s Red Bull Racing colleague hits the barrier at turn 15, prompting a red flag.
At the front, Lewis Hamilton explors the limits of the track and grip after several small excursions. On one occasion the world champion even brushes the wall. Nevertheless, Hamilton clockes the quickest lap, ahead of Rosberg and Bottas.
Azerbaijani Grand Prix - Baku City Circuit - Friday 17 June
RESULTS FREE PRACTICE 1 01 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:46.435 23 02 6 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:46.812 +0.377s 32 03 77 Valtteri Bottas Williams Mercedes 1:47.096 +0.661s 34 04 14 Fernando Alonso McLaren Honda 1:47.989 +1.554s 21 05 5 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1:48.627 +2.192s 26 06 11 Sergio Perez Force India Mercedes 1:48.922 +2.487s 17 07 22 Jenson Button McLaren Honda 1:49.019 +2.584s 21 08 19 Felipe Massa Williams Mercedes 1:49.125 +2.690s 22 09 55 Carlos Sainz Toro Rosso Ferrari 1:49.267 +2.832s 16 10 27 Nico Hulkenberg Force India Mercedes 1:49.301 +2.866s 27 11 8 Romain Grosjean Haas Ferrari 1:49.611 +3.176s 20 12 7 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:49.635 +3.200s 16 13 3 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer 1:49.778 +3.343s 17 14 21 Esteban Gutierrez Haas Ferrari 1:50.167 +3.732s 25 15 9 Marcus Ericsson Sauber Ferrari 1:50.473 +4.038s 18 16 33 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer 1:50.485 +4.050s 7 17 26 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso Ferrari 1:50.551 +4.116s 19 18 30 Jolyon Palmer Renault 1:50.910 +4.475s 25 19 20 Kevin Magnussen Renault 1:50.939 +4.504s 27 20 94 Pascal Wehrlein MRT Mercedes 1:51.219 +4.784s 24 21 12 Felipe Nasr Sauber Ferrari 1:51.771 +5.336s 11 22 88 Rio Haryanto MRT Mercedes 1:51.925 +5.490s 28
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