Spanish GP: Bottas quickest forward of Hamilton in 1st observe – different sports activities

Valtteri Bottas posted the quickest time within the first observe for the Spanish Grand Prix forward of Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton on Friday.

The Finnish driver was .039 faster than championship chief Hamilton and about 1 second forward of Max Verstappen, who leapfrogged Bottas into second place within the standings after profitable final Sunday’s race at Silverstone.

There was an encouraging enchancment for Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who positioned fifth behind his teammate Charles Leclerc. Ferrari modified the chassis on Vettel’s automobile following a dismal run of kind.

Sergio Pérez was seventh for Racing Level after recovering from the coronavirus and testing adverse. The virus pressured him to overlook the final two races at Silverstone in England after he contracted it final month. Following the Hungarian GP on July 19 he flew by personal airplane to Mexico, the place he visited his mom in hospital after she had an accident.

There’s a second observe session later Friday, the place circumstances are anticipated to be even hotter on the circuit situated simply exterior Barcelona.

Excessive monitor temperatures labored towards Mercedes final Sunday, with each drivers experiencing tire troubles.