Leclerc puts Ferrari on top in Formula 1 first Practice

Ferrari enjoyed a positive start to the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2019 after setting a blistering pace in today’s first Practice session at Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir. 

Charles Leclerc led teammate Sebastian Vettel to the top of the timesheet as racing action intensified at “The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East”.

Leclerc posted a best lap time of 1m 30.354s while completing 20 laps in the hour-and-a-half session around BIC’s 5.412-kilometre track.

Vettel followed with a fastest time just 0.263s behind. He completed 21 laps.

Mercedes’ Australian Grand Prix winner Valtteri Bottas was 0.974s adrift in third with 26 laps, while reigning World champion Lewis Hamilton had the fourth-best time 1.247s from Leclerc with 23 laps.

The Red Bull Racing pair of Max Verstappen (+1.319s) and Pierre Gasly (+1.461s) were fifth and sixth, respectively.

Carlos Sainz (+1.598s) put McLaren in seventh on the session’s classification; while rounding out the top 10 were Nico Hulkenberg (+1.686s) of Renault, Daniil Kvyat (+1.985s) of Toro Rosso and Kimi Raikkonen (+2.031s) of Alfa Romeo Racing.

The Formula 1 field returns for Practice Two at 6pm this evening.