Official F1 Journal Friday Formula one round up - Circuit Gilles Villenuve

©Aston Martin media

Fernando Alonso finished Friday at the track with the fastest time while Norris from top spot to bottom.
A disappointing session for Alpine’s reserve Jack Doohan who only managed 3 lap during his fourth appearance in a free practice one in place of Esteban Ocon.
And the tracks new asphalt created a “greasy” track as described by sky commentators resulting in the majority of drivers aquaplaning across the track, with a mixture of weather to come this weekend the following on track action is sure to be interesting.
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​Free practice 1
Top 10 results
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1 NOR  1:24.435
2 SAI +0.328s
3 LEC +0.871s
4 HAM  +1.535s
5 VER +2.067s
6 PIA +2.319s
7 GAS  +3.149s
8 BOT  +3.235s
9 PER +3.623s
10 RUS  +4.106s
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The drivers had their first taste of Gilles Villenuve new asphalt after a 20 minute delay. FP1 clocked started on time, however following hail and rain the track had standing water to clear away resulting in yellow flags.
Once on track the mixture of wets and intimidates tyres being used by the field didn’t stop cars from slipping and sliding all over the tack. Amongst those being sent off track was Zhou Guanyu who went into a wall near turn 5 in his kick sauber that pulled out a red flag with in 11 minutes of the active fp1 session and ending the session completely for the Chinese driver. Alex Albon and Jack Doohan also failed to a record a time.
Home favourite Lance Stroll was at the bottom of those who managed to record a time after a late trip across the grass.

©Williams racing media

©BWT Alpine racing media

©RedBull racing media

Free practice 2
Top 10 results
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1 ALO 1:15.810
2 RUS +0.463s
3 STR  +0.654s
4 LEC +0.746s
5 RIC +0.921s
6 MAG +0.963s
7 HAM +1.098s
8 TSU +1.141s
9 ALB +1.167s
10 PER +1.231s

Max Verstappen was first out on track and this time on time. Like Verstappen more drivers followed in slicks including his teammate Perez, Sainz and Gasly. Charlec Leclerc sticking with his intimidates.

Not long into the second session of the day the rain reappeared, it appears as if the difficult track conditions might as well have resulted in the team strategists playing ip dip do with their tyre choices as Ocon, after regaining his car after lending it to Jack Doohan for FP1, was left on track in his slicks while others debated their next move.

Verstappen retired from the session, instructing his team to bring out the “fans”, but an army of mechanics restricts viewers from gaining any further information.

The session comes to a close – seemingly more productive than early in the day with all bar 4 drivers completing 20+ laps. During FP1 the greatest number of laps ran by any driver was 11.  

​After a consistent run by both drivers Aston Martin stated “if conditions are the same tomorrow, those sharp in qualifying and make the right decisions on tyres could gain a big advantage.”

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Bronwen Jones
writer @ F1 journal