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Brazilian GP: Productive FP1 for ROKiT Williams


By Andrew Hooper
November 15 2019

The opening Friday practice session for the 2019 Brazilian GP would see the ROKiT Williams team complete their session without incident but would have to cope with mixed conditions ranging from rain at the start of the session through to a drying track. Nicholas Latifi would complete his final practice session run finishing behind his team-mate. George Russell would put in an impressive time that would see him finish 11th of the sixteen drivers who set times. Despite the difficult conditions it could still be viewed as a productive session for the team as they continue to work on developments for their 2020 car. 

 
 ROKiT Williams Brazilian GP Friday 1st Practice
 
Latifi
 

Team Summary:
With the opening Friday practice session commencing under very wet track conditions there was a question as to how much track time the drivers would want to run. With fifteen minutes of the session complete it would be the Ferrari's that would come out for runs on the full wet tyre. Next would be the Alfa Romeo's out for a run. But the rain would stop and it started to brighten. The track would empty but with under an hour and fifteen minutes remaining Grosjean would be next out followed by several drivers including both Williams. Drivers would complete single installation laps. The first lap time would come from Sainz with a 1m:23.689 improving a 1m:22.149.

Both Williams drivers were out of their cars with only the Red Bulls and Hamilton yet to come out. Leclerc was back out and would set a 1m:21.259 followed by Sainz and Norris. Hamilton was out running on the intermediate tyre. Leclerc had pitted to change to intermediate tyres and would set a 1m:17.285 now followed by Sainz, Kvyat, Norris, and Gasly. Vettel was now third but was still on the wet tyre. Hulkenberg was now second also on the intermediate tyre. But Vettel would move into second followed by Hulkenberg and Ricciardo with all the quick times on the intermediate tyre. Both Williams drivers were out on the intermediate tyre. Vettel was now quickest with a 1m:17.041 followed by Leclerc, Sainz, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Gasly, Norris, Kvyat, Magnussen and Giovinazzi in tenth. But we would see a Williams in 9th and the second 14th.

At the front Bottas would go quickest with a 1m:16.693 with just three cars running with both Williams back in their pits. Albon was on his first timed lap and would set a 1m:16.399 to go quickest. With fifteen minutes remaining and only two cars were running one been a Williams both cars would pit seeing the track empty. But a Williams would return for a short run and then we would see cars come out with slicks on with a rush of drivers all coming out with the majority on the soft tyre and Mercedes on the medium. But Verstappen would spin in what were still tricky conditions at the Senna esses. For team-mate Albon he would crash while running on the soft tyre seeing him leave the track and onto the grass and not be able to stop and go into the barrier. A red flag come out and the session would not be restarted.

The session would finish with Albon fastest despite having crashed with Bottas second followed by Vettel, Leclerc, Sainz, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Gasly, Kvyat, and Norris tenth. The Williams drivers were finish in 11th and 16th after a very mixed session which really would not be of much value if it remains dry over the rest of the weekend. Only time will tell and as for Williams Nicholas would get through his session without incident while George was able to put in a very good lap time.

George Russell:
George would also come out for his first run in eth session also on the wet tyre. George would complete a single lap. George would return to his car for his next run and the track started to dry. George would return still on the wet tyre. George would set a 1m:26.317 followed by 1m:25.305. George would pit changing to the intermediate tyre after running wide as he started the run up the hill to the main straight. George would improve with a 1m:20.021 to move ahead of his team-mate. With more laps George would see a 1m:19.680. George would improve with a 1m:19.220 to be ninth. He would pit after a six lap run. He would return completing a further two laps on the intermediate tyre. With ten minutes remaining and George would return still on the intermediate tyres. He would pit after a three lap run and would not get any further running with a red flag ending the session.

Nicholas Latifi:
Nicholas would be first ut for Williams running on the full wet tyre. He would pit after a single lap. Nicholas was also getting ready fro a further run. With forty minutes remaining Nicholas would return running on the intermediate tyre. He would set a 1m:23.274 to lead his team-mate. Nicholas would improve with a 1m:21.520 to close the gap to George. He would pit also having completed six laps but would return for a single lap run. With twenty three minutes remaining and Nicholas would return again on the intermediates. He would improve with a 1m:20.335 but was still 1.1s behind his team-mate. A 1m:20.010 would see Nicholas find three tenths. He would pit after a four lap run. He would not return as the session came to an end with a red flag..

 
Russell
 
Pos Driver Car Time Gap Laps
1 Alexander Albon Red Bull-Honda 1m16.142s - 9
2 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 1m16.693s 0.551s 10
3 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m17.041s 0.899s 13
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1m17.285s 1.143s 13
5 Carlos Sainz Jr. McLaren-Renault 1m17.786s 1.644s 16
6 Nico Hulkenberg Renault 1m17.899s 1.757s 8
7 Daniel Ricciardo Renault 1m17.985s 1.843s 9
8 Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso-Honda 1m18.100s 1.958s 17
9 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso-Honda 1m18.274s 2.132s 16
10 Lando Norris McLaren-Renault 1m18.559s 2.417s 15
11 George Russell Williams-Mercedes 1m18.779s 2.637s 18
12 Kevin Magnussen Haas-Ferrari 1m19.247s 3.105s 10
13 Lance Stroll Racing Point-Mercedes 1m19.414s 3.272s 6
14 Kimi Raikkonen Alfa Romeo-Ferrari 1m19.532s 3.390s 12
15 Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo-Ferrari 1m19.600s 3.458s 18
16 Nicholas Latifi Williams-Mercedes 1m20.010s 3.868s 16
17 Romain Grosjean Haas-Ferrari - - 3
18 Sergio Perez Racing Point-Mercedes - - 1
19 Max Verstappen Red Bull-Honda - - 3
20 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes - - 3
 
Latifi
 

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Brazilian GP: Productive FP1 for ROKiT Williams
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15/11/2019 15:56
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