Mexican GP: Encouraging FP1 for Williams Martini

Team Summary:
With the start of the opening Friday practice session for the 2017 Mexican GP there would be a mix of tyre types been used ranging from the ultra soft to the soft. Both Williams drivers would complete their installation laps. The first time would be set by Giovinazzi with a 1m:25.488 followed by a 1m:24.350 with the Hass the only car that was on the track. He would continue to improve with a 1m:23.418 with fifteen minutes completed. More drivers would start to come out for their first timed runs as Bottas went fastest with a 1m:21.212 on the super soft tyre. He would improve with a 1m:20.584. Perez was now second followed by Hamilton, Lance and Hulkenberg. Hamilton would move to the top of the times with a 1m:19.815. But Bottas would move ahead with a 1m:19.614.

Vettel was now third behind Bottas and Hamilton with Perez fourth followed by Ricciardo and Verstappen. Both of the Red Bull's were on the soft tyre and the Ferrari's the super soft. The track was very dirty as the first runs were completed. Vettel would improve to be second with a 1m:19.685 behind Bottas. Hamilton would go quickest with a 1m:19.373 followed now by an impressive Verstappen on the soft tyre. Raikkonen was now seventh but would improve with a 1m:19.375 to be second. After their runs the Williams drivers were in eighth and twelfth with just under an hour remaining. Bottas would go quickest with a 1m:19.081 but Vettel would move ahead with a 1m:19.041. Verstappen was now third with a 1m:19.317. The track was now empty with fifty minutes remaining. Vettel had improved with a 1m:18.824 prior to pitting.

Vandoorne had yet to set a time and the floor was off his car. Forty five minutes remaining and Bottas was first back out running on new ultra soft tyres. He would set a 1m:17.824 to go ahead of Vettel by a second. Hamilton was back out on new ultra soft tyres and would move into second with a 1m:18.613. Hulkenberg and Sainz were in sixth and seventh with Perez now eighth. Hamilton would improve with a 1m:18.290 remaining second with Verstappen third and Vettel fourth. Ricciardo was now fourth behind his team-mate with both the Red Bull's on the super soft tyre. The session would be red flag when Celis would crash his Force India at the final corner removing the rear wing as well as doing damage to the rear. The Williams drivers would have their second runs cut short with the pair eleventh and fourteenth.

The session would restart with both Williams drivers out quickly. Alonso was now seventh but was still in his pit. Neither of the Red Bull or Ferrari's had tried to ultra soft tyres. Ten minutes remaining a large number of drivers were on longer runs especially the Mercedes drivers on the ultra soft tyre. Bottas was still first followed by Hamilton, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Vettel, Raikkonen, Perez, Alonso, Felipe, and Hulkenberg tenth. having completed longer runs on the ultra soft tyres the Williams drivers would finish the session in ninth and twelfth in what was an eventful and productive session for the Williams team.

Felipe Massa:
Felipe would follow his team-mate out but would be running on the soft tyre. He would pit after a two lap run. Felipe would return for his timed laps running on the ultra soft tyre and his first timed lap would see him set a 1m:20.989 to currently be fourth. Felipe would drop to eighth behind Raikkonen having improved with a 1m:20.521. Felipe would improve with a 1m:20.258 remaining in eighth. He would pit after an eleven lap run. Felipe would drop to tenth as he sat in his pit. Felipe would also come back out running on new ultra soft tyres. Felipe would drop to eleventh as he pitted due to a red flag. Felipe would return for his second run and was able to set a 1m:19.854 to be ninth with eighteen minutes remaining. He would drop to tenth behind Hulkenberg. A 1m:19.528 would see Felipe move back into ninth. Another improvement with a 1m:19.443 from Felipe currently ninth. With the end of the session this is where he would remain.

Lance Stroll:
Lance would take to the track for his installation lap running on super soft tyres. Lance would also complete a two lap run for his installation laps. Lance would return with just over an hour and ten minutes remaining coming out on new ultra soft tyres. Lance would set a slow 1m:28.800 on his first timed lap. Lance would improve with a 1m:23.082 to be second. A 1m:22.511 would see Lance remain behind Bottas. Lance would drop to seventh then twelfth as other drivers went quicker, despite having set an improved 1m:21.356. Lance would pit having completed twelve laps. With thirty five minutes remaining Lance was back out again on new ultra soft tyres. Lance would also pit with the red flag having dropped to fourteenth. Lance would also return to get a second run in. Lance was also able to improve with a 1m:20.237 to be twelfth. A 1m:19.772 from Lance but he would remain twelfth. This is where he would remain with the end of the session.