A promising start for Alfa Romeo in the first practice session for the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix, as the team showed stronger pace compared to its recent display in Spain, with Kimi Raikkonen ninth, while Antonio Giovinazzi was a competitive 12th. The Finnish driver completed 38 laps, all on the Soft tyre, with a personal best of 1:13:363, in what seems to be a very close midfield battle, as six place Gasly was only two tenths faster than Kimi. Antonio Giovinazzi also completed 38 laps, with a personal best that was about one tenth slower than his teammate’s, as Alfa Romeo Racing aim to bounce back from their poor Spanish weekend.
Toro Rosso took 13th and 14th, with Daniil Kvyat ahead of Alexander Albon, while Lando Norris was the lead McLaren driver in 15th, as Carlos Sainz Jr. was beset by technical problems. Sainz Jr. managed just one installation lap early on due to an as-yet-undiagnosed mechanical issue on his McLaren MCL34 that kept him in the garage for the bulk of proceedings, and the team was able to get him back on track with just seconds remaining in the session. Racing Point and Williams lacked pace during the session, with Sergio Perez in 16th position, three-tenths behind McLaren’s Norris.
Reigning World Champion Lewis Hamilton set the pace during Thursday’s opening practice session for Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix. Hamilton and Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas traded fast times at the front of the pack before the Briton edged clear on a 1:12.106s, using the Soft tyres. It is the first time Mercedes has topped a session in Monaco since the corresponding practice in 2017.
Second practice is scheduled to begin at 15:00 local time.
Full results from opening practice for the Monaco Grand Prix at the Circuit de Monaco, round six of the 2019 Formula 1 season:
1. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport 1m12.106s
2. Max Verstappen NED Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Honda + 0.059s
3. Valtteri Bottas FIN Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport + 0.072s
4. Charles Leclerc MON Scuderia Ferrari + 0.361s
5. Sebastian Vettel GER Scuderia Ferrari + 0.717s
6. Pierre Gasly FRA Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Honda + 1.083s
7. Nico Hulkenberg GER Renault F1 Team + 1.121s
8. Kevin Magnussen DEN Rich Energy Haas F1 Team + 1.126s
9. Kimi Raikkonen ITA Alfa Romeo Racing + 1.257s
10. Romain Grosjean FRA Rich Energy Haas F1 Team + 1.273s
11. Daniel Ricciardo AUS Renault F1 Team + 1.307s
12. Antonio Giovinazzi ITA Alfa Romeo Racing + 1.331s
13. Daniil Kvyat RUS Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda + 1.625s
14. Alexander Albon THA Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda + 1.721s
15. Lando Norris GBR McLaren F1 Team + 2.172s
16. Sergio Perez MEX SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team + 2.460s
17. George Russell GBR ROKiT Williams Racing + 3.009s
18. Robert Kubica POL ROKiT Williams Racing + 3.408s
19. Lance Stroll CAN SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team + 4.029s
20. Carlos Sainz ESP McLaren F1 Team no time
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