F1: Hamilton edges Bottas in opening Bahrain practice
Newly crowned seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton ended the opening day of practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix fastest for Mercedes even as Red Bull’s Alexander Albon crashed.
The Briton lapped the 5.4-kilometer long Sakhir track in one minute, 28.971 seconds, 0.347 seconds quicker than Max Verstappen who was second for Red Bull.
Valtteri Bottas in the other Mercedes was third.
Hamilton set his fastest time under the floodlights in the second of Friday’s two 90-minute sessions. The 35-year-old had also gone quickest in the first afternoon session leading Bottas in a Mercedes one-two.
Friday evening’s session was interrupted by two red flags.
