Team Summary:
The opening Friday session would commence with both Williams drivers taking to the track early in the session. Roy Nissany was in for the session replacing George Russell. The only drivers yet to come out were the Red Bull's and Hamilton. With an hour and twelve minutes remaining Albon would come out. Times would start to come in with Raikkonen quickest with a 1m:25.198 on the hard tyre followed by Albon. Ocon on the hard would go ahead with a 1m:23.674 only to be passed by Albon with a 1m:22.280 but using the medium tyre. Hamilton was now second on the hard tyre while both Williams drivers were out for their first timed laps. Ocon was now third followed by Raikkonen and Grosjean. But it would change as Bottas went second and Hamilton now third. The Williams drivers were 18th and 19th with Sainz who was last yet to set a competitive time. Stroll was now third as Bottas pitted and returned on the medium tyre. The Williams drivers were now slowest as Verstappen moved into second using the hard tyre.

Hamilton was now quickest with a 1m:21.676 followed by Stroll and Perez. But Verstappen would move ahead of the Racing Points to again be second. The Williams drivers were now 18th and 20th. The session would be red flagged when Verstappen would spin at the final chicane taking to the gravel damaging his front wing and possibly his floor. He was able to get out and continue back to his pit as the other cars also came in. This corresponded with the forty minute period of the session that would have seen the drivers pit anyway. With forty five minutes remaining the track was now empty. The top ten was currently Bottas, 1m:21.657 using the medium tyre, followed by Hamilton, Verstappen, Perez, Ricciardo, Albon, Stroll, Ocon, Sainz, and Kvyat tenth. With the session restart both Haas cars would come out using the soft tyres.

Both Haas cars would improve seeing the Williams drivers now 19th and 20th. More drivers would come out on the soft tyre including both Mercedes. Bottas would improve with a 1m:20.703 with Hamilton remaining second. Albon was third followed by Kvyat and Gasly. Ricciardo was now sixth while the Williams drivers were again 18th and 20th. But this would change with the pair now 16th and 19th. This would become 17th and 20th as both drivers pitted with just over twenty minutes remaining. The track would empty after drivers completed their second runs. Fifteen minutes remaining and drivers would start to return including both Mercedes and AlphaTauri cars. They would be joined by both Red Bull and Racing Point cars. Both Williams drivers were on longer runs. With the end of the session the order was Bottas, Hamilton, Albon, Kvyat, Verstappen, Gasly, Perez, Norris, Ricciardo and Sainz tenth. The Williams drivers would remain in 18th and 20th. This was a typical FP1 for Williams with both drivers completing soft tyre runs followed by split tyre evaluations. As for their pace for the rest of the weekend it is very hard to assess. Once George Russell returns it may give a better indication. But it was surprising to see Nicholas finish behind Roy Nissany.

Roy Nissany:
Roy would be replacing George Russell for this session. He would follow his team-mate out for his install lap also using the hard tyre. Roy would return using the soft tyre with an hour and five remaining. Roy would set a 1m:25.713 to be 19th. Roy would improve with a 1m:24.653 but remained slowest. With a red flag Roy would pit having completed seven laps on the soft tyre. With thirty seven minutes remaining Roy would return this time on the hard tyre. On the hard tyre Roy would set a 1m:22.826 to move up to 16th. He would drop to 18th pitting after a nine lap run. With ten minutes remaining Roy was back out again on the hard tyre. He would pit with the end of the session having completed seven laps on the hard tyre.

Nichols Latifi:
Nicholas would be first out in the session for Williams running on the hard tyre. The team had applied flow viz to his rear wing to asses this on this low drag force circuit. With just over an hour remaining Nicholas was out joining his team-mate also using the soft tyre. His first lap time would be a 1m:24.887 to be 18th. Nicholas would improve with a 1m:24.387 but was well off the car in front that of Magnussen. But Nicholas would find time with a 1m:23.468 to move ahead of the Haas. Nicholas would pit with the Verstappen red flag completing a seven lap run. Nicholas would come out for his second run using the medium tyre. Nicholas would set a 1m:23.179 to be ahead of Norris. He would improve fractionally with a 1m:23.120. Nicholas would drop to the bottom of the times and would pit after a six lap run. Nicholas would return for his third run this time using the medium tyre. He would pit after a seven lap run as the session ended.