Bottas with first Imola best time – Hamilton before Verstappen

Lewis Hamilton second in the first Imola practice session

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas set the fastest time in the opening training for the Formula 1 race in Imola. The Finn was on Friday in the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in 1: 16.564 minutes just 0.041 seconds faster than Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes. Red Bull driver Max Verstappen finished third behind the English winner of the opening race in Bahrain.

The one-hour session had to be interrupted around 20 minutes before the end. Verstappen's Red Bull stable rival Sergio Perez had spun with damage to the left rear tire, while the following Alpine driver Esteban Ocon also demolished the car. Both pilots were unscathed.