The only driver to break the 1 min 30sec barrier, the Dutchman is almost half a second ahead of his Mexican teammate Sergio Pérez, who took pole position here last season. The Austrian team thus confirms its clear superiority observed since the first laps of the season.

The two Aston Martins of Spaniard Fernando Alonso and Canadian Lance Stroll confirmed their excellent performances recorded in Bahrain two weeks ago by winning the third and fourth times, seven and nine tenths respectively behind Verstappen.

The two Mercedes of Britons George Russell and Lewis Hamilton clinched the fifth and sixth times but were relegated to more than a second.

Already under pressure after a poor performance in Bahrain, Ferrari had a disappointing test session: Spaniard Carlos Sainz is seventh while teammate Charles Leclerc is only twelfth, more than a second and a half behind the leader.

As a reminder, the Monegasque, who had to retire in Bahrain, will be penalized ten places on the starting grid after the replacement of an electronic component following the inaugural Grand Prix.

Frenchman Pierre Gasly (Alpine) clinched the eighth fastest time, while compatriot and teammate Esteban Ocon failed to enter the Top 10 (12th), which is completed by Thailand's Alex Albon (Williams) and Japan's Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri).

The second free practice session, the only one representative of the conditions of qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday, is scheduled for 20:00 local (18:00 French), at night.

. 1st free practice session:

Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1:29.617 (18 laps)

Sergio Pérez (MEX/Red Bull) 1:30.100 (20)

Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:30.315 (22)

Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:30.577 (20)

George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) 1:30.771 (26)

Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:30.787 (26)

Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari) 1:30.924 (23)

Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1:30.949 (24)

Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes) 1:31.030 (23)

Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1:31.110 (25)

Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1:31.118 (26)

Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1:31.181 (22)

Nyck de Vries (NED/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1:31.450 (29)

Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:31.491 (24)

Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Haas-Ferrari) 1:31.552 (22)

Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) 1:31.566 (23)

Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams-Mercedes) 1:31.922 (26)

Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo) 1:31.970 (25)

Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo) 1:31.986 (22)

Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:32.149 (21)

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© 2023 AFP