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That concludes the first practice session, read our full report here.
Colapinto’s been off at Alboreto (Parabolica) – almost repeated Antonelli’s crash but avoided the barrier. A brief yellow flag, that’s withdrawn, but the chequered flag is out now. We’re not going to see any improvements so that means Verstappen is fastest. Esteban Ocon has a bumpy spin at Rettifilo as he goes over the kerb. He and Colapinto end the session with identical times.
Verstappen lowers the best time to a 1’21.676, almost a full second quicker than his session-topping time in this session last year before the track was resurfaced.
Sainz has gone third on softs. Hamilton cuts the Roggia chicane.
Charles Leclerc is the first driver under 82 seconds, a 1’21.904 on softs puts him top of the times. Norris almost matches it seconds later, also on softs, just 13 thousandths of a second slower.
A nervous moment for Carlos Sainz Jnr who twitches wide in Parabolica, touches the gravel trap but avoids Antonelli’s fate.
A decent lap by debutant Franco Colapinto puts him in the top 10:
1. Valtteri Bottas: 1’22.127
2. Lewis Hamilton: 1’22.214
3. Alexander Albon: 1’22.220
4. Lando Norris: 1’22.443
5. Carlos Sainz Jnr: 1’22.511
6. Pierre Gasly: 1’22.763
7. Zhou Guanyu: 1’22.854
8. Sergio Perez: 1’22.872
9. Franco Colapinto: 1’22.880
10. Max Verstappen: 1’22.936
Hamilton restores Mercedes to the top of the times with a 1’22.214 on softs – but Bottas beats it! 1’22.127 for the Sauber.
Valtteri Bottas is now quickest on a 1’22.416 on softs, giving Sauber some encouragement after their dire weekend at Zandvoort. Leclerc gets crossed up at Lesmo 1 and runs wide.
Mercedes were running a comparison between their latest specification floor, introduced at Spa, and the older one, when Antonelli crashed. Antonelli was running the newer floor which Hamilton said after the last race may not be an improvement.
The session resumes, Ricciardo rejoins the track after waving to a child who was watching as he sat at the pit exit.
More than half of the field have taken new engines for this race: Both Mercedes, McLarens, Aston Martins, Saubers and Haas, plus Colapinto at Williams, who has taken over Sargeant’s stock of motors.
The session has obviously been red-flagged while the marshals rescue Russell’s car, which Antonelli was driving.
Dudley: “Are you okay? Are you okay?”
Antonelli: “[Censored by FOM]….
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