Sebastian Vettel setting a best time in FP2 of 1m34.120s, eclipsing the previous benchmark set by reigning world champion Nico Rosberg in Q2 last year of 1m35.337s. These times are expected to get even quicker as the weekend goes on, with the track constantly evolving. Although the surface offers more grip compared to last year, it is still very slippery with low degradation. Temperatures remained warm all day, with 27 degrees centigrade ambient and 42 degrees on track in the afternoon session.

MARIO ISOLA - HEAD OF CAR RACING
“There’s a gap of around a second between each compound, which is about the target we established at the beginning of the year. Supersoft and ultrasoft are the tyres that we expect to feature in qualifying and the race here. Although the track is slightly rougher than it was last year, as a result of normal asphalt evolution, it’s still very smooth and slippery, which keeps degradation low. Consequently we can expect a relatively straightforward one-stop race on Sunday, starting on ultrasoft and moving onto supersoft.”

FREE PRACTICE 1 – TOP 3 TIMES
DRIVER 		TIME 	  COMPOUND 
Raikkonen 	1m36.074s SUPERSOFT NEW
Bottas		1m36.119s SUPERSOFT NEW 
Hamilton 	1m36.681s SUPERSOFT NEW

FREE PRACTICE 2 – TOP 3 TIMES
DRIVER 		TIME	  COMPOUND 
Vettel 		1m34.120s ULTRASOFT NEW
Raikkonen	1m34.383s ULTRASOFT NEW 
Bottas 		1m34.790s ULTRASOFT NEW


FP1 - BEST TIME BY COMPOUND
COMPOUND 	DRIVER 	  TIME
SOFT 		Vettel 	  1m37.726s
SUPERSOFT 	Raikkonen 1m36.074s

FP2 - BEST TIME BY COMPOUND
COMPOUND 	DRIVER    TIME
SOFT 		Sainz 	  1m38.214s
SUPERSOFT 	Hamilton  1m35.710s
ULTRASOFT 	Vettel    1m34.120s

MOST LAPS BY COMPOUND SO FAR
COMPOUND 	DRIVER 	  LAPS
SOFT 		Bottas 	  16
SUPERSOFT 	Kvyat     25
ULTRASOFT 	Bottas    32

TYRE STATISTICS OF THE DAY
			SOFT    SUPERSOFT ULTRASOFT
Kms driven* 		1146 	2878 	  2071
Sets used overall** 	22 	40 	  19

* The above number gives the total amount of kilometres
driven in FP1 and FP2 today, all drivers combined.
** Per compound, all drivers combined.