US GP: Free Practice 1 - Re-Cap & Times

US GRAND PRIX - FREE PRACTICE #1

    Weather conditions were perfect for the first on-track session for the US GP weekend. Last year it was the complete opposite and most of the teams were coming up with things to do while they waited for the rain to stop. No rain in sight this time around.

    It was both Mercedes drivers who topped the session, with Hamilton leading the way with a 1:37.428. Rosberg was close behind with a 1:37.743. Verstappen, Raikkonen and Hulkenberg completed the top 5.

    Sergio Perez and Pascal Wehrlein were absent in this session, making way for potential future F1 drivers. Alfonso Celis Jr. took over in the Force India while current GP2 driver, Jordan King, took over in the Manor. It is rumoured if Esteban Ocon partners Hulkenberg at Renault next year, King could be Ocon's replacement at Manor.

    Marcus Ericsson suffered from power unit problems in the later half of the session with Gutierrez's running was hampered by clutch issues. Both drivers were still able to set times. Ericsson finished in 16th with a 1:41.170 and Gutierrez in 15th with a 1:40.970.

    The Virtual Safety Car was deployed after a huge piece of debris flew off of Vettel's Ferrari and landed in the middle of the track. Once it was cleared, the Virtual Safety Car period ended.

TIMES:

1. Lewis Hamilton - 1:37.428 / Mercedes-Mercedes

2. Nico Rosberg - 1:37.743 / Mercedes-Mercedes

3. Max Verstappen - 1:39.379 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER

4. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:39.407 / Ferrari-Ferrari

5. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:39.712 / Force India-Mercedes

6. Valtteri Bottas - 1:39.776 / Williams-Mercedes

7. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:39.963 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER

8. Sebastian Vettel - 1:39.988 / Ferrari-Ferrari

9. Daniil Kvyat - 1:40.131 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari

10. Carlos Sainz - 1:40.140 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari

11. Felipe Massa - 1:40.191 / Williams-Massa

12. Felipe Nasr - 1:40.287 / Sauber-Ferrari

13. Fernando Alonso - 1:40.362 / McLaren-Honda

14. Romain Grosjean - 1:40.826 / Haas-Ferrari

15. Esteban Gutierrez - 1:40.970 / Haas-Ferrari

16. Marcus Ericsson - 1:41.170 / Sauber-Ferrari

17. Alfonso Celis Jr. - 1:41.422 / Force India-Mercedes*

18. Jenson Button - 1:41.663 / McLaren-Honda

19. Kevin Magnussen - 1:41.942 / Renault-Renault

20. Jordan King - 1:42.021 / Manor-Mercedes*

21. Jolyon Palmer - 1:42.332 / Renault-Renault

22. Esteban Ocon - 1:43.874 / Manor-Mercedes

* - Driving in this session only

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk

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