Hami, Mercedes dominate season-opening practice – News of Bahrain- DT News

Hami, Mercedes dominate season-opening practice – News of Bahrain- DT News

Spielberg, Austria

Lewis Hamilton began his quest for a record-equalling seventh world title by topping the times yesterday as Formula One roared back with a full day's practice for the belated season-opening Austrian Grand Prix. Three months after the cancelled traditional curtain-raiser in Australia and six months on from the last race, it was business as usual from the dominant 'black arrows' Mercedes men with Valtteri Bottas next fastest as the sport re-started after its longest off-season.

Hamilton, in commanding form in both the morning and afternoon sessions, was quickest in one minute and 4.304 seconds to lead Bottas by 0.197 seconds and third-placed Sergio Perez, in Racing Point's pink Mercedes, by 0.657. Sebastian Vettel, in his last season with Ferrari, was fourth for the Italian outfit ahead of McLaren-bound Daniel Ricciardo of Renault and Lando Norris of McLaren.

Lance Stroll, in the second Racing Point car, modelled on the hugely-successful 2019 title-winning Mercedes, was seventh ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari and his future team-mate Carlos Sainz of McLaren.

The long-awaited track action brought an end to Formula One's longest break following the lifting of lockdown restrictions in Europe caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Hamilton, who