Hamilton makes a statement as F1 is back
Mercedes finish one-two in both free practice sessions
Formula One got back on track in changed circumstances but familiar fashion at the season-opening Austrian Grand Prix yesterday, with Mercedes and six times world champion Lewis Hamilton picking up where they left off last year.
The Briton and team mate Valtteri Bottas responded to the ‘new normal’ resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic by finishing one-two in both free practice sessions on the sport’s latest start to a campaign.
‘Black Lives Matter’ helmet
Hamilton, wearing a ‘Black Lives Matter’ helmet in a black Mercedes with ‘End Racism’ written on it, set a best time of one minute 04.304 after also going fastest in opening practice with a time of 1:04.816.
Bottas was 0.356 adrift in the morning but cut the gap to 0.197 in the afternoon.
Racing Point, whose Mercedes-powered RP20 has been dubbed the ‘Pink Mercedes’ because of its striking similarity to Hamilton’s title-winning 2019 car, were third fastest with Mexican Sergio Perez.
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, starting his last season in the Italian team’s red colours, was fourth fastest on his 33rd birthday with Australian Daniel Ricciardo fifth for Renault and McLaren’s Lando Norris sixth.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, winner of the last two races at his team’s home track, was third in the first session but spun twice and finished up eighth after lunch.
“Motor Sport is back!,” said International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Jean Todt on Twitter, moments after the cars left the Spielberg pitlane.