FP1: Ricciardo quickest, Max under investigation

Editor

The Pirelli hypersoft tyres did everything the box said they would as Daniel Ricciardo set the pace in first practice in Monaco ahead of Max Verstappen, who is under investigation.

Keeping with tradition, practice for the Monaco Grand Prix got underway on Thursday morning.

Sergey Sirotkin had the dubious honour of being the first to hit the barriers hard enough to damage his car.

尽管上海站光brush as he returned to the pits after his installation lap, it was Sirotkin who, one could say, did it properly.

He hit the barrier on the main straight and destroyed his right rear tyre also causing some damage to the floor of his Williams.

Romain Grosjean was also forced into a repair job as he clipped the barrier.

Meanwhile out on track it was Red Bull on the hypersoft tyres versus Mercedes on the ultrasofts in the battle for P1.

While Lewis Hamilton led the early running, Red Bull took over at the front with Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen trading blows.

The Dutchman led the way after 40 minutes with a 1:12.723. Ricciardo was four-tenths down while Vettel was a full second off the pace in third.

Mercedes swapped to the pink Pirellis for their second run of the day with Hamilton immediately up to second and Bottas fourth.

Hamilton upped his pace to a 1:12.480 to go quickest but it was short-lived as Verstappen returned to the track and laid down a 1:12.280.

However, an issue at Sainte Devote meant Verstappen ended FP1 under investigation for reversing onto the track in a dangerous fashion as he drove into the path of others, most notably Kimi Raikkonen. The Ferrari driver had to cut the corner to avoid Verstappen.

Ricciardo put in a late effort to finish P1 with a 1:12.126 on his 15th lap on a set of hypersofts.

Verstappen made it a Red Bull 1-2, finishing 0.154s down while Hamilton was third.

Vettel finished fourth quickest ahead of Raikkonen. Ferrari ran special software – and an additional sensor – in the session to put an end to speculation that their battery is delivering more power than is permitted.

According to reports, the FIA asked them to run the sensor to clear up the issue.

Carlos Sainz was sixth fastest ahead of Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez, Grosjean and Sirotkin.

It was not a great start to the weekend for Fernando Alonso who had brake issues and covered just five laps before he was sidelined. He was back on track for the final ten minutes of practice and finished P17.

Times
1 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 1:12.126
2 Max Verstappen Red Bull 0.154s
3 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 0.354s
4 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 0.915s
5 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 0.940s
6 Carlos Sainz Renault 1.330s
7 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 1.376s
8 Sergio Perez Force India 1.591s
9 Romain Grosjean Haas 1.817s
10 Sergey Sirotkin Williams 1.836s
11 Esteban Ocon Force India 1.874s
12 Brendon Hartley Toro Rosso 1.908s
13 Nico Hulkenberg Renault 2.008s
14 Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso 2.114s
15 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren 2.165s
16 Charles Leclerc Sauber 2.395s
17 Fernando Alonso McLaren 2.511s
18 Lance Stroll Williams 2.656s
19 Marcus Ericsson Sauber 3.080s
20 Kevin Magnussen Haas 6.675s

Monaco GP

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