Spielberg bei Knittelfeld (Austria) (AFP)

Briton Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) set the fastest time in the 1st free practice session of the Austrian Grand Prix, 1st round of the Formula 1 World Championship, Friday on the Red Bull Ring (4.318 km) in Spielberg.

The reigning world champion, who can equal Michael Schumacher's seven-crowned record this year, edged out Finnish teammate Valtteri Bottas by 356/1000 and Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), winner in 2018 and 2019, by 602 / 1000.

Verstappen also suffered an inconsequential spin.

The Silver Arrows, which feature a black bodywork in support of the fight against racism, did indeed use the "DAS" (for dual axis steering), an ingenious system developed during in winter, which allows the pilot to modify the spacing of the front wheels of his car according to his needs by pulling or pushing his steering wheel.

It will be interesting to see over the weekend what advantage it brings to the German team, six times holding the constructors' title.

The first car to hit the track to open the season, more than three months late due to the coronavirus, was the McLaren of the Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr, for a session punctuated by a short downpour.

To report the loss of a piece of bodywork from the Renault of Frenchman Esteban Ocon, who drives for the first time in Grand Prix since the 2018 season, and a brake pedal problem for the other three-color driver Romain Grosjean (Haas), which could only complete six laps.

Free practice 2 starts at 3 p.m. local time (1 p.m. GMT).

The season should have started in mid-March in Australia but was delayed by the new coronavirus pandemic. It will continue, at a minimum, by a series of eight races in Europe until early September, for the time behind closed doors and following a strict sanitary protocol.

. 1st free practice session:

Lewis Hamilton (GBR / Mercedes) 1: 04.816 (42 laps)

Valtteri Bottas (FIN / Mercedes) 1: 05.172 (38)

Max Verstappen (NED / Red Bull-Honda) 1: 05.418 (37)

Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP / McLaren-Renault) 1: 05.431 (41)

Sergio Pérez (MEX / Racing Point-Mercedes) 1: 05.512 (34)

Lando Norris (GBR / McLaren-Renault) 1: 05.621 (42)

Alexander Albon (THA / Red Bull-Honda) 1: 05.701 (29)

Daniel Ricciardo (AUS / Renault) 1: 05.860 (29)

Kevin Magnussen (DEN / Haas-Ferrari) 1: 05.907 (27)

Charles Leclerc (MON / Ferrari) 1: 05.924 (31)

Lance Stroll (CAN / Racing Point-Mercedes) 1: 06.074 (35)

Sebastian Vettel (GER / Ferrari) 1: 06.077 (32)

Esteban Ocon (FRA / Renault) 1: 06.270 (22)

Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA / Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 1: 06.360 (24)

Kimi Räikkönen (FIN / Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 1: 06.365 (28)

Pierre Gasly (FRA / Toro Rosso-Honda) 1: 06.404 (25)

George Russell (GBR / Williams-Mercedes) 1: 06.495 (27)

Nicholas Latifi (CAN / Williams-Mercedes) 1: 06.906 (31)

Daniil Kvyat (RUS / Toro Rosso-Honda) 1: 06.943 (19)

Romain Grosjean (FRA / Haas-Ferrari) 1: 46.361 (6)

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© 2020 AFP