Verstappen Sets Fastest Time In First Practice Session

SEPANG (Selangor, Malaysia), Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen got off to a good start on the first practice session classification as he set the fastest lap time at the Sepang Circuit here Friday. Verstappen, who will be celebrating his 20th birthday on Saturday, clocked one minute 48.962 seconds to claim the top spot, beating his teammate and Malaysian Grand Prix defending champion Daniel Ricciardo by 0.757s. In the third position was three-time Malaysian Grand Prix champion Fernando Alonso of McLaren Honda who clocked 1:50.597s. Meanwhile, home team Mercedes AMG Petronas drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas were at sixth and seventh placing with a time of 1:51.518s and 1:52.007s, respectively. The second practice session will be held at 3 pm. -- BERNAMA