Ahead of today’s sole practice session, the air temperature is 12 degrees C, while the track temperature is 14 degrees. It is sunny but chilly.
In terms of upgrades, as it is a Sprint weekend these are few and far between. Ferrari has a new Halo which sees a winglet element introduced to the halo pillar as a minor update. It is not event specific, it simply returns a
small aerodynamic load benefit.
Racing Bulls have a new Rear Corner, whereby the winglet geometry change helps improve the flow management at the back of the car and around the rear tyre.
Haas has a new Rear Impact Structure, which features a small winglet placed on top of the structure to promote upwash, which in turn improves the local aerodynamic characteristics and results in a corresponding increase in load.
Audi has a new Front Wing and Nose. The new flap and end plate on the front wing lead to improved flow characteristics travelling further downstream along the car, which is locally and globally more efficient. In combination with this, the updated nose design allows a more efficient load extraction all along the slope.
Finally, Cadillac has a new Diffuser and Mirror Stay. Modifications made to the trailing edge of the diffuser lead to an increase in the local aerodynamic load acting on the winglet cascade, consequently increasing the overall aerodynamic load at the rear of the car, while in terms of the mirror stays, the aerodynamic surface geometry has been revised in order to accommodate and integrate the latest structural improvements made to the component.
Although not listed as an upgrade, because it was used in pre-season testing, Ferrari, as previously reported, is running its rotating ‘Macarena’ rear wing.
As was the case last week, in the moments before the green light Alonso is still in his civvies.
Ocon leads the way, followed by Bearman, Russell, Gasly and Hulkenberg.
Among the early risers is Alonso, who, like the majority of drivers, is on mediums.
An early spin for Colapinto in Turn 9. Replay suggests it wasn’t driver error.
Hamilton and Norris almost touch as they battle for position. Moments earlier, the Ferrari driver had spun in Turn 6, again not down to the driver. “Rear brakes locked-up,” he reports.
Of the first wave Gasly goes quickest, ahead of Ocon, Bearman, Hulkenberg and Bortoleto.
Hamilton has four flat-spotted tyres but opts to continue.
Antonelli goes top with a 35.094, ahead of Leclerc, Piastri and Verstappen.
“This traffic is unbearable,” moans Hadjar.
Russell goes top with a 35.065 as the VSC is deployed as Hamilton has been noted for causing a collision (with Norris).
As was the case last week, marshals run on to the track to clear some debris while there are still cars on track.
Verstappen does well to control a high-speed snap.
After 11 minutes, all bar Stroll and Sainz have posted times.
Lindblad has topped at Turn 9, bringing out the yellows. Indeed, the VSC is deployed as he climbs from the car.
Just before that, Russell had improved to 34.169.
As the RB is pushed to safety, drivers are losing precious running time what with this being then sole practice session.
The VSC is withdrawn with 41 minutes remaining, within moments Leclerc splits the Mercedes pair with a 34.707 as Stroll finally posts a time, albeit 9s off the pace.
Alonso improves to 17th with a 38.579, as Norris, seemingly on a race sim, is 1.4s off the pace.
With 34 minutes remaining, Hamilton switches to softs, the Aston Martin paid following suit.
PBs in all three sectors see Hamilton improve to fifth, 0.816s off the pace.
Hamilton improves to third with a 34.617, the Briton now 0.448s off then pace.
Still no time from Sainz who appears to have a telemetry problem.
“Both cars have had that snap quite regularly,” Piastri is helpfully advised following a brief excursion.
A big, big lock-up for Hadjar as Sainz finally heads out.
Another improvement for Hamilton who now goes second, just 0.208s off the pace. That’s after 7 laps on his softs. However, Russell’s time was posted on the mediums.
With 15 minutes remaining, Russell, Leclerc and Antonelli are among the first to switch to softs.
Colapinto grinds to a halt as he enters the pitlane, and as his crew rush to his aid he is able to get going again.
Meanwhile, on the red-banded rubber, Russell improves to 32.807, that’s a 1.3s improvement.
Antonelli responds with a 32.963 as Leclerc crosses the line at 33.599.
On mediums, Sainz goes 17th with a 36.648, just behind his Williams teammate.
“Give me a plan mate, I don’t know where I am in this session,” urges Hamilton, whose session is out of sync following that early off which flat-spotted his mediums forcing the early switch to softs.
Russell improves to 32.741.
Bearman goes fifth and Lawson seventh, but the kiwi is demoted when Gasly posts a 34.676 to go seventh.
A 33.700 puts Norris fourth, 0.959s off the pace. Piastri (34.550) can only manage eighth.
Verstappen goes seventh, 1.800 off the pace.
Piastri improves to third with a 33.477, though he’s still 0.736s adrift of Russell.
Quickest in S1, Antonelli improves to 32.861.
Alonso improves to sixteenth with a 35.875 as Hadjar can only manage fourteenth.
Hulkenberg goes ninth (34.639).
Leclerc takes a bumpy ride over the gravel as he runs wide exiting the final corner, the Ferrari kicking u a great cloud of dust.
Ocon improves to twelfth as Norris bangs in a 33.296 to leapfrog his McLaren teammate for third.
A late improvement for Hadjar who goes thirteenth, while Stroll does well to avoid a wildly spinning Bearman.
The session ends, and it’s Noah’s Ark syndrome with Russell ahead of Antonelli, Norris, Piastri, Leclerc, Hamilton, Bearman, Verstappen, Hulkenberg and Gasly.
Lawson is eleventh, ahead of Bortoleto, Hadjar, Ocon, Colapinto, Albon, Sainz, Alonso, Bottas, Stroll, Lindblad and Perez.
As was the case last week, Mercedes appears to be in a league of its own, while it is somewhat surprising to see McLaren ahead of Ferrari, while Verstappen is under pressure from Bearman, Hulkenberg and Gasly!