Malaysia – Free Practice 1: Verstappen and Ricciardo tackle the rain
In a session delayed and disrupted by rain, the two Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo were the fastest. They outpaced an impressive Fernando Alonso in his McLaren and the championship favorites.
As expected, heavy rain poured down on the Sepang track, preventing the single-seaters from starting this first free practice session at the scheduled time.
Indeed, for a good half-hour, it’s the now-famous safety car that is tasked with assessing the track conditions. As these conditions improved, the single-seaters were allowed to take to the track with more than a thirty-minute delay.
🚥 GREEN LIGHT 🚥
The cars are finally on track 🙌#MalaysiaGP 🇲🇾 #F1 pic.twitter.com/RbSPhAwZL4
— Formula 1 (@F1) 29 septembre 2017
But the courageous are not in large numbers and rain tires are being used by the entire field. As the conditions improve with less intense rain, intermediate tires begin to make their appearance, and it is Esteban Ocon’s Force India that is the first to hit the tarmac in this configuration.
Soon followed by the rest of the field, which starts to clock significant lap times with a battle for the best time between the two Red Bulls of Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari. It is the Australian who, with a 1.50.825, wins the round just before the rain stops.
In addition to the official debut of Pierre Gasly in Formula 1 at the wheel of Toro Rosso, many third drivers are on the track this morning. Sergey Sirotkin replaces Nico Hülkenberg at Renault, Sean Gelael has taken Carlos Sainz’s place at Toro Rosso, Antonio Giovinazzi that of Kevin Magnussen at Haas, and finally, Charles Leclerc is driving alongside Pascal Wehrlein at Sauber.
The German Sauber driver actually performs a nice maneuver with a spin that propels him into the still wet grass.
WEH goes for a spin at Turn 9 🔄
No harm done as he gets going again#MalaysiaGP 🇲🇾 #FP1 pic.twitter.com/PrV3dCTpMW
— Formula 1 (@F1) 29 septembre 2017
In a final effort, Max Verstappen snatched the best time with 1:48.962, ahead of Daniel Ricciardo and a surprising Fernando Alonso, who took advantage of the improving track conditions minute by minute to emerge late and thus place his McLaren-Honda in a flattering third position.
The complete ranking of FP1:
INITIAL CLASSIFICATION (END OF FP1): A successful opening session for @redbullracing #MalaysiaGP 🇲🇾 #F1 pic.twitter.com/yhurJ118DJ
— Formula 1 (@F1) 29 septembre 2017
