FP1: Albon fastest before crashing out in wet first session

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F1 Grand Prix, GP Brazil, Autódromo José Carlos Pace, Interlagosbr

The Brazilian Grand Prix weekend started wet, meaning that the green lettered intermediate tyre was the one to be on during the entire session, which was topped by Red Bull driver Alexander Albon.

The rain made the session largely irrelevant, especially in the first half hour, when full wets were required to keep the cars on track. It made for a very quiet start to the session. In fact, even while conditions improved after that, Grosjean, Perez, Verstappen and Hamilton didn't even bother to set a timed lap. They limited themselves to some disovery runs.

As such, it was Albon who could ace the session, though it ended a bit sour for him as he parked his Red Bull RB15 in the wall close to the end of the session. With little time left, his minor crash caused a red flag that was immediately the end of the 90-minute FP1.

Valtteri Bottas was second fastest, topping the Ferraris in third and fourth.

Some drivers attempted to get into the spotlight by fitting slicks in the closing stages of the session, but there was the necessary reality check when Verstappen, and then Kvyat spun at Turn 2. It was for the same reason that Albon effectively ended the session in the tyre barriers.

Results

Pos.No.DriverCarTimeGapLaps
123Alexander AlbonRed Bull Racing Honda1:16.142-9
277Valtteri BottasMercedes1:16.693+0.551s10
35Sebastian VettelFerrari1:17.041+0.899s13
416Charles LeclercFerrari1:17.285+1.143s13
555Carlos SainzMcLaren Renault1:17.786+1.644s16
627Nico HulkenbergRenault1:17.899+1.757s8
73Daniel RicciardoRenault1:17.985+1.843s9
810Pierre GaslyScuderia Toro Rosso Honda1:18.100+1.958s17
926Daniil KvyatScuderia Toro Rosso Honda1:18.274+2.132s16
104Lando NorrisMcLaren Renault1:18.559+2.417s15
1163George RussellWilliams Mercedes1:18.779+2.637s18
1220Kevin MagnussenHaas Ferrari1:19.247+3.105s10
1318Lance StrollRacing Point Bwt Mercedes1:19.414+3.272s6
147Kimi RäikkönenAlfa Romeo Racing Ferrari1:19.532+3.390s12
1599Antonio GiovinazziAlfa Romeo Racing Ferrari1:19.600+3.458s18
1640Nicholas LatifiWilliams Mercedes1:20.010+3.868s16
178Romain GrosjeanHaas Ferrari--3
1811Sergio PerezRacing Point Bwt Mercedes--1
1933Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing Honda--3
2044Lewis HamiltonMercedes--3