Two-time world champion Max Verstappen had mixed results in the opening Formula 1 practice session on Friday, recording the quickest lap before spinning out on Albert Park.
The Red Bull Star scorched around Albert Park in 1.18.790, more than half a second faster than his teammate Sergio Perez, who closed 1.19.293.
But with just five or so minutes left in the hour-long session, Verstappen lost control of his car, spinning off the track, before reporting to his team: “Ah, these tyres are completely f—ed now.”
Lewis Hamilton complained about bouncing early in the session, an issue which plagued Mercedes throughout 2022, but he ended up recording the second-fastest time of 1.19.223, with a gap of 0.433 to Verstappen.
Australian Oscar Piastri recorded the 12th-fastest lap in practice on Friday afternoon, less than a second off Verstappen’s time.
Piastri, who took the McLaren around Albert Park for the first time in his career, finished slightly off teammate Lando Norris, whose quickest lap was more than a quarter of a second faster than Piastri’s.
Earlier, Verstappen reported gear-box issues, while Yuki Tsuonda spun out midway through the hour-long session, and nearly caused an accident, with Hamilton forced to brake to avoid running up the back of Tsuonda’s AlphaTauri.
Perez had the third-fastest lap, from Fernando Alonso and then the Ferrari pair, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
A GPS issue forced all 20 cars back into the pits at one stage, but they were able to get back on the track before the practice was called off a few minutes early due to a red flag.
More to come
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