FP1: Verstappen tops first practice in Turkey

F1 Grand Prix, GP Turkey, Istanbul Park

Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen ended up fastest at the end of the opening practice session for the Turkish Grand Prix as drivers struggled with the slippery track surface.

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas set the pace initially, but lap times were some 20 seconds slower than expected. Drivers quickly gave an explanation for the slower than anticipated lap times as they began to complain about the slippery surface of the track. Max Verstappen claimed that conditions were similar to “driving on ice.”

At the end of the session, Red Bull drivers emerged fastest with Verstappen setting the fastest lap with a time of 1m35.077, followed by his teammate Alexander Albon.

Despite setting the early pace, Bottas finished down in 9th while his teammate Lewis Hamilton never really set a representative lap time, the Briton classified as 15th.

Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo was also among the drivers who found the conditions extremely tricky with the Australian ending up 18th, over 10 seconds off the pace. His teammate Esteban Ocon felt more comfortable in the challenging condition, setting the 10th fastest lap time.