FP1: Hamilton narrowly leads Verstappen and Bottas

  • Published on 23 May 2019 12:32
  • comments 2
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Lewis Hamilton has topped the opening practice session of the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, setting a lap time of 1:12.106.

The world championship leader was only marginally ahead of Max Verstappen in the Red Bull car, who was just over half a tenth down on Hamilton’s time.

Verstappen went straight on at Turn 5 during the session, and struggled to pull the car in reverse gear. The Dutchman received the help of the marshals and managed to get back on his way.

Valtteri Bottas was also close to Hamilton’s time, as the top three were separated by less than a tenth of a second.

Traffic was a problem for many drivers during the session, as they got held up by their fellow competitors while attempting to set a lap time.

Ferrari was further back down on Mercedes and the Red Bull of Verstappen, with Charles Leclerc’s fastest time reading 0.361s down on Hamilton.

Vettel, who is sporting a special helmet in tribute to Niki Lauda this weekend, was over seven-tenths down on Hamilton in fifth place, while the second Red Bull of Pierre Gasly was sixth.

Shortly after the start of the session, both Haas’ were black flagged by the FIA due to the fact there was no communication going from the team to the driver. Both Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen managed to return to the circuit later in the session.

Carlos Sainz failed to set a time and only got out with a handful of seconds left on the clock, as McLaren discovered an issue with his car, believed to be related to the battery.

Renault managed to secure the ‘best of the rest’ spot for the opening practice session, as Nico  Hulkenberg was seventh, just behind Gasly on the same compound.

Despite the communication and telemetry problems that it endured during the session, Haas’ Magnussen and Grosjean ended the 90-minute session in eighth and tenth respectively, with Kimi Raikkonen lodged between both.

MC Monte Carlo - 23 May 2019

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • Ferrari already looking way behind....

    • + 0
    • May 23 2019 - 14:28
  • Vega23

    Posts: 17

    wow, Sainz has work to do... still, i think of he walks around the track he can improve on that time!

    • + 0
    • May 23 2019 - 21:13

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Mercedes
  • Points 3,344
  • Podiums 131
  • Grand Prix 205
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Jan 7 1985 (39)
  • Place of b. Tewin, GB
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.74 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar