Montmeló (Spain) (AFP)

Finland's Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) set the best time in the 1st free practice session of the Spanish Grand Prix, 6th round of the Formula 1 World Championship, Friday at the Barcelona-Catalonia circuit (4.655 km) at Montmelo.

His time of 1 min 16 sec 785/1000 places him 39/1000 only in front of his team-mate, and leader of the drivers' classification, the Briton Lewis Hamilton.

Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), the first driver from a team other than Mercedes to win in 2020 last week at Silverstone (Great Britain), is 3rd, at 939/1000.

The Ferraris of Monaco Charles Leclerc and German Sebastian Vettel follow at 1 sec 185/1000 and 1 sec 196/1000 respectively.

Back after missing two GPs after having tested positive for the new coronavirus, Mexican Sergio Pérez (Racing Point) is 7th at 1 sec 686/1000.

Note the rare presence in the Haas top 10 of Frenchman Romain Grosjean, 6th at 1 sec 506/1000, and of Dane Kevin Magnussen, 9th at 1 sec 835/1000.

Twentieth and last, Roy Nissany, a Franco-Israeli driver with an Israeli license, took part in his first F1 free practice session with Williams, in the seat of George Russell, after taking part in the year's end of season testing. last in Abu Dhabi.

. 1st free practice session:

Valtteri Bottas (FIN / Mercedes) 1: 16.785 (33 laps)

Lewis Hamilton (GBR / Mercedes) 1: 16.824 (29)

Max Verstappen (NED / Red Bull-Honda) 1: 17.724 (26)

Charles Leclerc (MON / Ferrari) 1: 17.970 (27)

Sebastian Vettel (GER / Ferrari) 1: 17.981 (27)

Romain Grosjean (FRA / Haas-Ferrari) 1: 18.291 (29)

Sergio Pérez (MEX / Racing Point-Mercedes) 1: 18.471 (31)

Alexander Albon (THA / Red Bull-Honda) 1: 18.606 (27)

Kevin Magnussen (DEN / Haas-Ferrari) 1: 18.620 (28)

Lance Stroll (CAN / Racing Point-Mercedes) 1: 18.643 (31)

Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP / McLaren-Renault) 1: 18.733 (33)

Esteban Ocon (FRA / Renault) 1: 18.736 (31)

Lando Norris (GBR / McLaren-Renault) 1: 18.744 (32)

Pierre Gasly (FRA / AlphaTauri-Honda) 1: 18.888 (26)

Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA / Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 1: 18.917 (24)

Kimi Räikkönen (FIN / Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 1: 18.981 (24)

Daniil Kvyat (RUS / AlphaTauri-Honda) 1: 19.145 (21)

Daniel Ricciardo (AUS / Renault) 1: 19.230 (31)

Nicholas Latifi (CAN / Williams-Mercedes) 1: 20.334 (30)

Roy Nissany (ISR / Williams-Mercedes) 1: 20.664 (25)

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© 2020 AFP