By Matt Morlidge
Last Updated: 10/07/20 11:37am
Sergio Perez out-paced Max Verstappen and Mercedes to set a surprise pace for Racing Point in Styrian GP first practice, as Formula 1 returned to Austria’s Spielberg circuit following a dramatic season-opener.
For the first time in F1 history, the sport is hosting back-to-back Grands Prix at the same circuit – with the Styria region taking the name for the second instalment- and less than a week after Valtteri Bottas won the first race, the following weekend began with plenty of teams up and down the grid testing new parts in a bid to improve their 2020 cars.
Ferrari, who have fast-tracked two major upgrades to their car, were of particular interest as Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc tested a new front wing and floor.
But it was Perez, a sixth-place finisher in the Austrian GP, who topped the timesheets to kick-start F1’s second weekend of the season, finishing a tenth of a second ahead Verstappen on the same soft tyre.
Verstappen was also running updates on his Red Bull as they look to close the gap to Mercedes.
And while he did beat Bottas and Lewis Hamilton in P1, they were running on the medium tyre and, presumably, holding pace back given how big an advantage they enjoyed in the opening weekend.
Despite Ferrari’s new parts, Vettel and Leclerc placed only 10th and 12th.
More to follow.
The new Formula 1 season is underway in dramatic style on Sky Sports F1 and continues this week with the second race at the Red Bull Ring – the Styrian GP. Find out more & subscribe.