Austrian GP: Stroll ahead of Kubica in FP1

Team Summary:
The opening Friday practice for the 2018 Austrian GP would see Pirelli bring the soft, supersoft and ultrasoft tyres to the weekend. The first time of the session would come from Verstappen with a 1m:08.474 running on the supersoft tyre. He would improve with a 1m:06.935 and then a 1m:06.470. He was now followed by Perez, Vandoorne and Bottas. The track was getting busy with Bottas now second followed by Hamilton. All there were on the supersoft tyre. Perez and Ocon were fifth and sixth using the ultrasoft tyre. Bottas would improve from third to be quickest with a 1m:05.995. But Hamilton would go quicker with a 1m:05.825 only to have Bottas move ahead again with a 1m:05.807.

Twenty minutes into the session and neither Williams driver had returned to the track. Verstappen was now third followed by Vettel, Gasly, Ocon, Raikkonen, and Grosjean eighth. Vettel would improve to be third behind Hamilton. Hamilton would improve to be quickest with a 1m:05.525. After their first runs the Williams drivers were in 18th and 19th. Both drivers were on longer runs on the ultrasoft tyre. At the front Ricciardo was now second, on the soft tyre, leading Bottas and Vettel. With forty minutes of the session would see the track empty as drivers pitted to return their set of Pirelli tyres.

Drivers would start to return for their next runs. Using the ultrasoft tyre Vettel would go second. A 1m:05.354 would see Bottas fastest but Hamilton would go ahead with a 1m:05.037. Bottas would improve with a 1m:05.235 but remained second. Both the Williams drivers were back out for their second runs with the pair separated by just 0.261. Hamilton would improve with a 1m:04.839 using the ultrasoft tyre. Bottas had set a 1m:04.966 but remained second. Verstappen was third followed by Vettel, Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Grosjean, Ocon, Leclerc, and Gasly tenth. The session would come to a close with the order remaining the same. For Williams their drivers would finish in 16th and 20th. It would seem that both drivers were on longer runs on the ultrasoft tyre in this opening session.

Lance Stroll:
Lance would complete his installation lap using the soft tyre. Lance would be the first to return for Williams using new ultrasoft tyres. A 1m:08.304 from Lance on his first lap running in 15th. He would improve with a 1m:07.889 dropping to 18th. A 1m:07.606 would not see him improve any places. He would find a few tenths with a 1m:07.544 but remained in 18th. A 1m:07.463 would see an improvement but remained 18th. Lance would also pit after a 13 lap run. Lance would return one lap after his team-mate also on the ultrasoft tyre. lance would set a 1m::06.819 to be 11th. Despite setting a 1m:06.669 he would drop to 15th. A further improvement with a 1m:06.567 but he had dropped to 16th. He would pit after an 11 lap run. He would complete the session with a further run on the ultrasoft tyre completing a total of 18 laps.

Robert Kubica:
Robert was back in the Williams for the opening Friday practice session. As usual his supporters could be seen in the stands. Kubica would complete his installation lap using the supersoft tyre. Robert would join his team-mate out on the track also using the ultrasoft tyre. A slow 1m:10.734 from Robert on his opening lap. A 1m:09.463 but Robert was only 19th. He would improve with a 1m:08.882 but did not improve any places. A 1m:08.309 would see him remain 19th. Robert would pit briefly after a 13 lap run. With just under forty minutes remaining and Robert would return again on new ultrasoft tyres. Robert would drop to be 20th despite setting a 1m:07.424. Robert would also pit after a ten lap run. He would return for a further run as the session drew to a close completing 23 laps in total.