Hamilton tops F1’s first practice classification ahead of Bottas

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was the fastest man of the opening 90-minute Formula 1 practice session in this weekend’s F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit.

Hamilton sent a stern warning to his rivals and showed that he will not be letting up in the Kingdom’s F1 double-header, despite having already clinched this season’s drivers’ world title and constructors’ crown with Mercedes.

The session experienced some light rainfall, but not enough to have a significant impact on the action.

Hamilton had a best lap of 1min 29.033secs around BIC’s 5.412-kilometre track, putting in 40 laps of work. He was 0.449 seconds quicker than teammate Valtteri Bottas, who finished with 41 laps in the other Mercedes car.

Racing Point’s Sergio Perez was third in the classification, 0.967s off the leader’s pace with 31 laps.

Rounding out the top eight in the first practice were McLaren’s Carlos Sainz, AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly, the Red Bull Racing pair of Max Verstappen and Alexavder Albon, and Renault’s Esteban Ocon.

The remaining drivers were classified in the following order: Lance Stroll of Racing Point, Daniel Ricciardo of Renault, Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel, Alfa Romeo’s Robert Kubica who was in the car for Kimi Raikkonen this session, Hass’ Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen, AlphaTauri’s Daniil Kvyat, McLaren’s Lando Norris, and the Williams tandem of Nicholas Latifi and Roy Nissany, who filled in for George Russell in the practice.

Hamilton took his place atop the timesheet with around 30 minutes to go. Albon had earlier led momentarily at the half-hour mark.

Formula 1’s second 90-minute practice session of the weekend follows later this evening under lights, scheduled for a 6pm start.