Sakhir 2020 FP1 Grand Prix report & highlights: Russell impresses with fastest time on first Mercedes outing as drivers familiarize themselves with Bahrain’s outer loop

George Russell started his weekend as a Mercedes super-sub with the fastest speed in Sakhir Grand Prix opening practice ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, as the drivers had their first look at the Bahrain Outer Loop track layout.

In the absence of Lewis Hamilton, who is self-isolating with Covid-19 this weekend, Russell took his place at Mercedes this weekend and finished his first session with a lap of 54.546s on this fast track of the Bahrain International Circuit. Russell’s lap was 0.332 seconds faster than the best effort of teammate Valterri Bottas, who was fourth behind Russell and the two Red Bulls.

READ MORE: When will he return and who will replace him? Key questions answered after Hamilton tested positive for Covid-19

Red Bull occupied both P2 and P3, with Verstappen 0.176 seconds off Russell’s pace and Alex Albon just 0.265 seconds. Albon did a high speed spin on turn 2 late in the session but his RB16 fortunately remained unscathed.

Daniil Kvyat, fifth, was less than half a second behind Russell and just over a tenth faster than his sixth-place teammate Pierre Gasly as AlphaTauri had an encouraging session. In a bizarre moment, Gasly found himself hooked up to his right side mirror at one point, as he threatened to fall out of the car on his way back to the pits.

The Renaults and Ferraris lined up in sequence with Esteban Ocon seventh and Daniel Ricciardo ninth; Sebastian Vettel eighth and Charles Leclerc 10th – both teams are hoping for more after finishing behind McLarens in the Bahrain Grand Prix last week.

Racing Point therefore missed the top 10, with Lance Stroll 11th and Sergio Perez, who retired from the podium last time, 12th.

READ MORE: Russell ‘can reach pole and win’ in Mercedes debut, says Norris, as Leclerc predicts ‘one podium at least’

McLaren was also absent from the top 10 in FP1, Carlos Sainz 13th having spent a considerable amount of time in the garage for repairs thanks to the bumps and heavy curves of this circuit layout. Lando Norris finished 16th overall.

Between the McLarens were the Alfa Romeos of Kimi Raikkonen, 14th, and Antonio Giovinazzi, 15th.

As Romain Grosjean recovers from his horror fall in the final race, Pietro Fittipaldi was named as his replacement and finished P19 for Haas in this session. He was little less than second teammate Kevin Magnussen, who finished 17th as he prepares to switch to sports cars in the United States in 2021.

WATCH: ‘Thank you for saving my life’ – Emotional Grosjean meets his Bahrain GP rescuers

Behind Fittipaldi was Williams’ reserve driver Jack Aitken, who replaces Russell this weekend. Aitken completed the standings, 2.157 seconds behind Russell in the Mercedes, and just over four tenths behind teammate Nicholas Latifi who finished 18th.

Williams’ Latifi and Aitken were the only riders who didn’t have their best times on softer tires, with Latifi using mediums for his personal best and Aitken using hard compounds.

Free Practice 2 will likely be another action-packed session as the laps are thick and fast on this very short circuit, but can anyone knock the temporary Mercedes driver Russell off the top of the standings? Find out from the start of FP2 at 2030 local time.