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Max second in Sochi FP1

Published on 28 September 2018 by Stefan Meens

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen started his Russian Grand Prix weekend with a second place in the opening practice session. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) was quickest around the Sochi Autodrom on Friday morning. The Silver Arrows of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas were third and fourth fastest in their Mercedes.

Max, using a new B-spec Renault power-unit this weekend, opened his session with the customary installation lap. Soon after, the youngster heads out for his first run. He opts to do so on the softest Pirelli tyre available, the hyper-soft.

Although Mercedes starts the session on the harder, ultra-soft compound, the reigning world champions set the pace with Hamilton leading the way in the first half of the session.

An hour into the session, Ferrari moves to the front with Sebastian Vettel setting the quickest lap of the morning (1:34.488). The German achieves his fastest effort on the hyper-soft tyres.

Max’ best time - 1:34.5 - is clocked with twenty minutes to go, also on the hyper-softs. It grants the Dutchman P2. In the closing stages, the 20-year-old loses the rear of his RB14, but he is able the catch it and continue without any issues. In total, Max laps the Sochi circuit 20 times in FP1, all on the hyper-soft compound.

Russian GP contest: win a Red Bull Racing 2018 softshell!

Results first free practice Russia:

posdriverteamtimelaps
1Sebastian VettelVETFerrari1:34.488
2Max VerstappenVERRed Bull Racing TAG Heuer1:34.538+0.050s
3Lewis HamiltonHAMMercedes1:34.818+0.330s
4Valteri BottasBOTMercedes1:34.999+0.511s
5Daniel RicciardoRICRed Bull Racing TAG Heuer1:35.524+1.036s
6Esteban OconOCOForce India Mercedes1:35.663+1.175s
7Kimi RäikkönenRAIFerrari1:35.696+1.208s
8Kevin MagnussenMAGHaas Ferrari1:36.196+1.708s
9Nico HulkenbergHULRenault1:36.274+1.786s
10Antonio GiovinazziGIOSauber Ferrari1:36.712+2.224s
11Romain GrosjeanGROHaas Ferrari1:36.816+2.328s
12Pierre GaslyGASScuderia Toro Rosso Honda1:36.944+2.456s
13Lando NorrisNORMcLaren Renault1:37.022+2.534s
14Charles LeclercLECSauber Ferrari1:37.054+2.566s
15Artem MarkelovMARRenault1:37.183+2.695s
16Stoffel VandoorneVANMcLaren Renault1:37.187+2.699s
17Nicholas LatifiLATForce India Mercedes1:37.206+2.718s
18Sergey SirotkinSIRWilliams Mercedes1:37.225+2.737s
19Brendon HartleyHARScuderia Toro Rosso Honda1:37.944+3.456s
20Lance StrollSTRWilliams Mercedes1:39.137+4.649s