Hamilton fastest on new Baku street circuit

F1 Grand Prix, GP Europe, Baku Street Circuit

Lewis Hamilton set the fastest lap in the first practice session of the European Grand Prix during which drivers learned the ins and outs about this new territory. Nico Rosberg was second fastest and Valtteri Bottas third.

Times were arguably irrelevant in the first session, given that everybody focused on trying to get to know the track. Most drivers did not even compete a single lap in their team's simulator on it, so everything really had to be done from scratch, including the car's setups.

Even though the track is considered dangerous at some areas, including the lack of run-off at turn 2, most drivers kept their cars safely on the track. It was really only Daniel Ricciardo who shunted, completely ruining the right rear suspension of his Red Bull Racing car as he lost control of his car through turn 15 and ended up in the wall.