Valtteri Bottas led the way for Mercedes, ahead of Formula 1’s title front-runners, during opening practice for the Portuguese Grand Prix.
Drivers struggled with tyre warm-up and grip on Pirelli’s hardest compounds – the company has brought its C1s, C2s and C3s – in relatively overcast and cool conditions at Portimao.
Lap times lowered once the red-walled Softs were equipped though the best time remained around a second down on the corresponding session last October.
Bottas set a time of 1:19.648s to eclipse Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 0.025s while Sergio Perez moved up to third with a late flier.
World Champion Lewis Hamilton finished down in fifth position, though only three-tenths off the pace, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc moving up to fourth with an effort as the chequered flag flew.
Verstappen complained about tyre vibrations before his lap, quipping he would need to visit a dentist, while early on Hamilton labelled the balance of his W12 as “undriveable.”
Russell shows encouraging speed
Pierre Gasly delivered on AlphaTauri’s early-season speed by placing sixth but of more surprise was the presence of George Russell inside the top 10.
Russell vaulted to third place with his effort on Soft tyres and while some rivals improved he classified an eye-catching seventh, 0.881s behind Bottas, at the conclusion of the one-hour session.
Lando Norris was the lead McLaren driver in eighth position, in front of Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari, while Alpine snuck into the top 10 courtesy of Esteban Ocon, ahead of quickest Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll.
Ilott makes FP1 bow
Last year’s Formula 2 runner-up Callum Ilott made his first appearance at a grand prix weekend after being appointed as Alfa Romeo’s back-up reserve driver.
Ilott was due to make his FP1 debut with Haas at the Nurburgring last October but persistent rain and fog led to the cancellation of that session.
Almost seven months on Ilott finally got behind the wheel of Formula 1 machinery at a grand prix weekend as he took Antonio Giovinazzi’s C41 for the session.
Ilott previously tested for Alfa Romeo in Spain in 2019 and again in Abu Dhabi last year, while the Briton has also taken part in private test days with backers Ferrari at its Fiorano facility.
Ilott completed 21 laps to wind up 17th, four-tenths and two spots behind team-mate Kimi Raikkonen.
Friday’s second practice session will begin at 15:00 local time.
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