Ahead of today's opening session the air temperature is 29 degrees C, while the track temperature is 49 degrees. It is bright and sunny.
In terms of updates, McLaren has a new Front Wing. The endplate has been modified, resulting in an improvement of aerodynamic flow conditioning and subsequently enhanced aerodynamic overall performance.
At Mercedes it's a Rear Wing, where small winglets have been added on the centreline. These winglets increase the camber of the upper rear wing on centreline, generating downforce and drag at a ratio attractive for this event.
Red Bull has a new Front Wing. The wing element geometries have been revised where these meet the endplate. By modifying existing parts, a new geometry of the elements near the end plate becomes available. The aim being to improve the local load whilst maintaining flow stability. Should the front wing load demand exceed expectations, a more cambered flap assembly has been produced to offer more local load.
Ferrari has a new Front Wing, Front Wing Endplate, Nose, Floor Body, Floor Board, Floor Edge, Diffuser and Sidepod/Coke. This is an evolution of the front wing platform raced so far, with enhanced tip flow features coming with front wheel wake control benefits as well as increased aero balance capacity. More integrated SM mechanism links returns tidier centre line flow features. It also comes with flap lips modulation. Benefiting from an improved onset flow quality, the floor update is targeting overall aerodynamic load increase across the main car operating window as well as flow features robustness improvements together with improved flow topology and energy towards the rear corners. Finally, the sidepod geometry has been developed in conjunction with the floor update and manipulates front wheel wake together with the floor board update, as well as the rebalancing the front floor pressurisation.
Wiliams has a new Rear Wing. Different SM fairing geometry with added winglets offers local load for high downforce tracks. Local trailing edge extensions have been added on the rear wing third element for efficient load increase.
Racing Bulls have a new Front Wing and Diffuser / Rear Crash Structure. Additional front wing load is generated by adding Gurney flaps to the trailing edge. This provides extended balance range for the car for setup optimisation during the weekend. The updated diffuser profile & integration with rear crash structure provides improved aerodynamic flow conditioning at the back of the car, to aid with efficient load generation from the floor.
Haas has a new Rear Impact Structure. An alternative rear impact structure device will be available, enabling targeted tuning of the car's characteristics for this circuit.
Finally, Cadillac has new Cooling Louvres and Rear Wing. The addition of louvres to the upper surface of the rear sidepod has been implemented to increase the power unit cooling range. While the reintroduction of an SLM mechanism fairing to the updated rear wing that was first introduced at Monaco is to re-instate the availability of low drag mode on this wing.
There are no less than seven reserve drivers on duty this morning, Vesti at Mercedes, Beganovic at Ferrari, Fornaroli at McLaren, Iwasa at Red Bull, Browning at Williams, Aron at Audi and Herta at Cadillac.
Green light and Colapinto leads the way, followed by Fornaroli, Bearman, Herta and Bottas. Sainz stops at the end of the pitlane. "It's not switching on," he reports.
Despite there not being as many upgrades as we've come to expect here, aero rakes and flo-vis are much in evidence.
As more drivers head out it is a mixture of hards and mediums, though Herta is on softs.
Verstappen posts a benchmark 18.511, as Lindblad goes second ahead of Ocon.
Sainz finally leaves the pits, having suffered a steering issue according to Williams. However, there appears to be an issue with Browning's car.
"The brakes have a vibration on them," reports Piastri.
Russell goes top with a 17.414 as Lawson goes second (18.397).
Aron is also on softs.
Leclerc, who has switched brake supplier since last weekend, goes third with an 18.009.
Herta takes a bumpy ride over the gravel after running wide in Turn 8.
McLaren is still experimenting with the front wing first introduced in Canada.
Russell consolidates his top spot with a 17.353 as Piastri goes second, ahead of Leclerc, Lawson and Lindblad.
Sainz has been noted for impeding Lawson at Turn 10, the RB driver having to go off track in order to avoid the Williams.
Bortoleto improves to ninth with a 19.745, albeit 2.392s off the pace.
"Luke's running is delayed while the team further investigates an electrical issue," reports Williams.
Vesti and Aron switch to the red-banded rubber.
Beganovic goes sixteenth with a 21.012.
Aron improves to seventh (18.515 on the softs.
Bortoleto runs wide at Turn 8 as Verstappen goes top (17.047) on the softs.
"I'm losing the rear so much, the car is very unstable," reports Bortoleto.
Quickest in all three sectors, soft-shod Russell retakes the top spot with a 16.363.
Fornaroli improves to ninth with an 18.584.
Piastri improves to second with a 16.566, while Leclerc leapfrogs Verstappen for third with a 16.883.
At Ferrari, Beganovic is focussing on testing the updates rather than looking to set the timesheets alight.
He and Leclerc have posted the most laps thus far, 20 each.
Aron improves to fifth with a 17.321. However, he is demoted when Fornaroli posts a 17.216.
Still no sign of Browning.
Beganovic posts a 17.778 to go eighth.
"Something is broken guys, I need to box," reports Gasly. "I can't turn forwards," he cryptically adds. "I think it's something with the suspension."
"What's happening, I'm sideways everywhere, I have zero grip," says Bortoleto.
The session ends. Russell is quickest, ahead of Piastri, Leclerc, Verstappen, Fornaroli, Aron, Lawson, Beganovic, Lindblad and Colapinto.
Bearman is eleventh, ahead of Bortoleto, Sainz, Iwasa, Vesti, Ocon, Gasly, Bottas, Alonso, Stroll, Herta and Browning.
sign in