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Team Summary:
With hypersofts, ultrasofts and supersofts tyres available from Pirelli the
opening Friday practice session for the 2018 Mexican GP would get underway.
Apart from the Mercedes drivers everyone had completed their installation
laps. The first times would be set with Vettel quickest with a 1m:19.696
followed by Raikkonen with both on the hypersoft tyre. Perez would move up
to third followed by Vandoorne, Sergey, Grosjean and Magnussen. Sainz would
go quickest with a 1m:19.523 on what was still a very dirty track. Perez was
now fastest with a 1m:19.469 while Hulkenberg was now fifth. It was changing
quickly as Verstappen went fastest with a 1m:18.588 followed by Ricciardo
and Bottas third. All these times were set on the hypersoft tyre. But it was
now Hamilton quickest with a 1m:18.268. Verstappen would again be quickest
with a 1m:18.026 but Ricciardo would move ahead with a 1m:17.932.
After the first series of times were set the Williams drivers would find
themselves down in 14th and 17th with Lance leading Sergey. The top ten was
Ricciardo from Verstappen, Hamilton, Bottas, Sainz, Perez, Vettel,
Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, and Giovinazzi in the Sauber tenth. With forty
minutes of the session completed the track would empty as drivers returned
to the pits to return their first set of Pirelli tyres. Only four drivers
had used the ultrasoft tyre for their runs. With thirty five minutes
remaining drivers would start to return with more now running the ultrasoft
tyre. Hartley was now fifth and Grosjean ninth with both running on the
hypersoft tyre. At the front it would be Verstappen who was now quickest
with a 1m"16.656 followed by Ricciardo, Sainz, Hulkenberg, Hamilton, Vettel,
Bottas, Raikkonen, Hartley and Perez tenth. With twenty minutes remaining
the Williams drivers were 18th and 19th. Both would return for a further run
on the hypersoft tyre no doubt to gather more data.
Lance Stroll:
Lance would come out for his first run using the ultrasoft tyre. Lance would
pit after a two lap run. Lance was out running on the hypersoft tyre and
would set a 1m:35.605 to currently be tenth. Lance would improve with a
1m:21.710 to be eighth. With a 1m:21.135 Lance was now 12th with an hour
remaining. He would drop to 14th and would pit briefly having completed an
eight lap run. He would complete one extra lap before pitting. Lance was now
back out with just over thirty minutes remaining again on the hypersoft tyre
currently 18th. He would set a 1m:20.359 to remain 18th. A 1m:20.142 would
see Lance still 18th. Lance would pit after a five lap run. With fifteen
minutes remaining Lance was back out on used hypersoft tyres. He would pit
having said that the rears were shot having completed fourteen laps on the
hypersoft tyre in total.
Sergey
Sirotkin:
Sergey would be first out for Williams in the opening Friday practice
running on the supersoft tyre. Sergey would pit after a two lap run. Sergey
would return running on the hypersoft tyre with just under an hour and ten
minutes remaining. Sergey's fist timed lap was a slow 1m:39.329 to currently
be fourth. He would improve with a 1m:22.236 remaining fourth. He would drop
to eighth then 11th. He would drop down to 17th with under an hour
remaining. Serge would also pit after a ten lap run. Sergey would return
running on a new set of ultrasoft tyres. He was currently 19th but his first
lap would see a 1m:19.899 to now be 16th. He would drop to 18th. Sergey
would pit after a seven lap run. Sergey would also return running on used
hypersoft tyres. |
