Finland's Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) was the fastest time of the first two free practice sessions of the Brazilian GP on Friday at Interlagos in Sao Paulo ahead of his British teammate Lewis Hamilton.
At the end of the second session, the fastest of the day, only 3/1000 separated Bottas from the crowned five-time world champion Formula 1 driver two weeks ago in Mexico, Hamilton.
The German Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), Hamilton's dolphin in 2017 and 2018, appears in third place at 73 / 1000.Mercedes will try to validate his fifth consecutive constructors title this weekend in Brazil, which will be effective if the Scuderia can not score thirteen points more than the Silver Arrows. Bottas is looking for his first win this season. The Finnish stoic had obeyed the instructions of his team leaving the first place in Hamilton in Russia in late September .
++ Brazilian Grand Prix: Mercedes for a fifth double winners and builders
"I do not know if I would do him a favor by giving him a win, and anyway, I do not think he needs it," said Hamilton, who has only won The red flag was waved after just nine minutes in the second session as Germany's Nico Hülkenberg (Renault) made a mistake in the grass at the end of the last corner and hit the wall on the right. Seriously damaging his car, Vettel returned to the booth shortly thereafter, complaining that something was moving between his legs in his cockpit, probably a wreckage from his fellow countryman's crash.
The rain disruptive?
"I'd be proud if that's what you're thinking about, but it's not the case!" joked the quadruple world champion, who was then forced to a new halt for further checks. On the side of Red Bull, Max Verstappen was the fastest of the first session but the Dutch prodigy suffered a oil leak, which delayed his action in the second.Decided not varnished in 2018, his Australian teammate Daniel Ricciardo, 4th of two sessions, was awarded five penalty places on the grid Sunday for a change of turbo, the one used in Mexico was damaged during the intervention of the commissioners following its abandonment.
++ Daniel Ricciardo penalized five places
Frenchman Romain Grosjean (Haas) showed great skills finishing seventh twice. His team announced in Sao Paulo the recruitment as test driver of Pietro Fittipaldi, grandson of the Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi, double world champion in 1972 and 1974.The rain, which made a shy appearance on Friday, has a Chance of two to upset the deal Saturday for qualifying from 18h (17h GMT) and Sunday for the race which will start at 18h10 (17h10 GMT).
Champagne showers extended until 2021!
It will also be necessary to monitor the deterioration of the tires, which seemed very premature with regard to the soft and super-soft tires. The question of these tires considered too fragile will be one of the topics addressed Friday evening during the meeting of the GPDA, the F1.Enfin, the Formula 1 officially extended Friday its commitment started in 2017 with the champagne Carbon, after the brief interlude of a Californian sparkling wine and the long reign of champagne Mumm.Les three pilots finishing on the podium will continue to shower with tricolor bubbles at least until the end of 2021.