And so, finally, the day was here. Or, for me, it was in the middle of the night, and the early morning, and as the second session went underway the sunrise slowly comes over the horizon even here in Norway.
So in a world with much tension, it’s a bit nice, that it’s hard to find something further away from Southern Norway than Australia. Still we see the same sun, and for a while at the same time.
Free Practice 1
The first practice of a weekend, and of course that of a season, don’t show off to much. There was a three day test, there is a known circuit. The tires are more or less the same. And in the final year of a regulation period. It’s not so huge differences to expect.
But, good old Williams, the revolutionary team with so many glory days, might be back in the game? Carlos Sainz at least placed P2 in his first real outing with the new team. And teammate Albon was up on a solid P6.
McLaren got P1 and P4, pretty much something we could expect. And Charles Leclerc took his Ferrari on to a P3. Reigning champion, Max Verstappen, who has tried to lower the expectations for the first race. Ended with a P5.
And then, there is Lewis Hamilton. Only got a P12 in the first practice, but again, he needs to adapt to a lot of new stuff, after being what for many else is twice a career, in Mercedes. After some years at McLaren.
For the newcomers, no huge news. Hadjar is best of them, with a solid P9. Doohan P13 with his Alpine. Antonelli in Mercedes follows on P14, Bortoleto on P15 with his Sauber, Lawson ended on P16. And with that is worst of those with the top teams. Bearman had a hard start, in his first full season, and hit the barriers and smashed up his Haas.
Free Practice 2
Some of the most exciting part of the second session, was if Bearman was able to hit the track. Climbing in his car with under two minutes on the clock, but he didn’t make it.
Some fast laps, some long runs. Noteworthy from the end results, is Leclerc topping the list, with the two McLarens behind. Tsunoda pushing the Racing Bull to P4, and Lewis Hamilton got some push with his red Ferrari for a P5.
Hadjar made his way ahead of the “mother team” with a P6, ahead of Verstappen’s P7. Hulkenberg way better than in the first session with P8, Stroll P9 and Russell P10.
It’s rather tight, with no huge intervals on the timing. Although the field spreads out. Yet, there is another hour to set the car ready for qualifying, and then the race on sunday.
No big accidents, although Hulkenberg was off, and went to check up everything, and got 24 laps. Most drivers is around 30 laps. Verstappen with only 22, didn’t report any issues on the broadcast, but might have done spent time on trying different adjustments.
Friday round up
Impressive performance by some of the rookiess. Unfortunately Bearman missed the full hour after the first practice crash. None of the newcomers brings any real headlines. Highly anticipated Antonelli, coming from only one season in Formula 2, doesn’t make headlines, yet. But there is something with him, that have made Mercedes give him this chance. I can’t say what, but it’s something.
Williams impressed on the first session, didn’t make it to the top 10 in the second. Lawson is struggeling, and that may be something that is most important for the competition. This years constructors championship will be tight, and it’s unlikely that Verstappen can carry the team alone as he has the last few years. Mercedes seems to have taken a rebuild, giving Antonelli the year for the experience, and hoping for some results at times.
- Most impressive team: Racing Bulls
- Most impressive driver: Hadjar