Max Verstappen

Charles Leclerc has not achieved any success at his home race on the Formula 1 circuit. 

The Ferrari driver and 2022 championship contender has an 18th-place finish, a did not finish and a did not start on his resume at the Monaco Grand Prix, but he could reverse his history inside the principality on Sunday starting from pole position.

Leclerc was on pole last year, but he was unable to start because of damage suffered by his car at the end of qualifying. Leclerc's title rival, Max Verstappen, went on to win the race. 

A crash in qualifying could play in favor of Leclerc during Sunday's race, though, depending on the repairs made to the cars of Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz overnight. 

Perez spun and hit a barrier in the final minutes of Saturday's qualifying session, and Sainz made some contact with the stopped Red Bull.

Leclerc and Verstappen have been the only contenders for the majority of the chequered flags throughout the season, though, and Red Bull had Verstappen pass Perez last week in Spain despite having a one-two finish locked up. 

Verstappen qualified in fourth place and should be the Red Bull car on the hunt for Leclerc and Sainz around the streets of Monaco.

      

Monaco Grand Prix Odds

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

Charles Leclerc (-330; bet $330 to win $100) 

Max Verstappen (+600; bet $100 to win $600)

Carlos Sainz (+700)

Sergio Perez (+1200)

Lando Norris (+5000)

George Russell (+10000)

Lewis Hamilton (+13000) 

                

Starting Grid

FULL QUALIFYING CLASSIFICATION 👀#MonacoGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/gCo3jFgJQS

— Formula 1 (@F1) May 28, 2022

   

Top Storylines

Charles Leclerc Looking To Break Bad Luck At Monaco

Leclerc has earned pole for the second straight race at his home Grand Prix. 

The Ferrari driver has to be hoping that Sunday's run across the principality's streets is as stress-free as it could be. 

Leclerc needs a good race at Monaco to erase all of the bad memories on his home roads and to get back on track in the drivers championship.

He was on pace to win the Spanish Grand Prix last Sunday until he was forced to retire because of a mechanical issue. That allowed Verstappen and Perez to take first and second for Red Bull, respectively. 

Leclerc enters Sunday with a six-point deficit to Verstappen in the championship, and the pole he secured in qualifying could be crucial since Monaco is a notoriously hard track to pass on. 

Leclerc finished in either first or second in four of the five races he finished this season, and his sixth-place finish at Imola was down to a bad strategic decision. 

A win at Monaco for Leclerc would obviously mean a ton for him personally, and it would hand his team just a second win inside the principality since 2002. 

       

Red Bull Forced To Chase Down Ferrari

The battles for the drivers and constructors championships between Ferrari and Red Bull will be front and center on the streets of Monaco.

Leclerc and Sainz earned spots on the front row in qualifying, while Perez and Verstappen respectively landed in third and fourth.

Verstappen has been Red Bull's primary focus all season long, and he should get the preferential treatment to chase down Leclerc on Sunday, and the damage suffered to Perez's car at the end of the final round of qualifying on Saturday makes it all the more likely Verstappen will be the priority.

Perez could still be a threat to Leclerc from third place, but the chances of that happening could drop because of all the new equipment Red Bull has to put on the car. 

Verstappen passed Perez under team orders to win at Spain last week, and we can't rule out the same thing occurring on Sunday if the two are chasing down Leclerc. 

        

Gambling problem? Call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369).

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visiting ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), visiting OPGR.org (OR), or calling/texting TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

Odds and lines subject to change. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.  

Max Verstappen may have just taken control of the 2022 Formula One season.

Verstappen cruised to victory in Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix, earning his fourth win of the season and overtaking the points lead.

Charles Leclerc, who entered the weekend with a 19-point lead in the standings, is now six points behind Verstappen after a disappointing 20th-place finish.

Sergio Perez finished second behind Verstappen, while George Russell, Carlos Sainz Jr. and Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top five. 

Leclerc looked like he had the best car in the field throughout the early part of the race before bowing out on Lap 28 because of power-unit problems. 

"We will look at this issue and we cannot afford for this to happen many times during the season, so we need to find the problem," Leclerc told reporters. "The lead of the championship will go down to basically nothing or maybe we will lose it actually, but that's fine. I'm not looking at it.

"I think what is the most important is your own performance, and performance-wise we are performing very well so I can't wait to go at home next week, and hopefully we'll have a great result [in Monaco]."

By contrast, Verstappen spent much of the early part of the race growing frustrated with his car's performance. He was heard over the radio bemoaning the failure of his drag-reduction system before finally settling in and eventually moving to the front of the pack.

Verstappen, Formula One's defending champion, now looks well on his way to winning a second straight drivers' title. He's captured the last three races, digging himself out of the hole created by a 19th-place finish in Bahrain and a retirement in Australia.

Meanwhile, Leclerc's failure could not have come at a worse time. He'd managed to keep the points lead by turning in consistent performance after consistent performance, finishing sixth or better in each of the season's first five races.

Hamilton, the sport's most famous face, is now six races into a season without a victory for the first time since 2016. It's looking increasingly like he will finish out of the top two in final points standings for the first time since 2013.

Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen will continue their fight for the Formula 1 drivers' championship at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday. 

The two drivers have traded wins over the first five races of the F1 season. Verstappen owns three victories, and Leclerc finished first on two occasions. 

The pair of championship favorites are expected to compete for the win in Barcelona on Sunday. Leclerc put his Ferrari in pole position during Saturday's qualifying session, while Verstappen's Red Bull car landed second on the grid. 

Their head-to-head showdown is far from the only notable storyline in play, however. 

Mercedes has struggled to start the season but appeared to have gained more speed in qualifying. George Russell landed fourth on the grid, and Lewis Hamilton sits in sixth. Mercedes is third in the constructor's championship behind Ferrari and Red Bull despite its rocky start, although there is a 56-point gap to Red Bull in second.

The big question around the upcoming two weeks of racing in Spain and at Monaco is whether or not Mercedes' improvements are enough to help it challenge for wins and podium finishes alongside Ferrari and Red Bull.

    

Spanish Grand Prix Info

Date: Sunday, May 22

Start Time: 9 a.m. ET

TV: ESPN2

Live Stream: ESPN.com and ESPN app

   

Race Odds

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

Max Verstappen (-110; bet $110 to win $100)

Charles Leclerc (+155; bet $100 to win $155) 

Carlos Sainz (+1200)

George Russell (+1600)

Lewis Hamilton (+1800)

Sergio Perez (+2200) 

    

Top Storylines to Watch

Can Anyone Break Up the Leclerc-Verstappen Dominance? 

Not even the teammates of Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen have been able to challenge the two title favorites over the first five races of the season. 

Verstappen is coming off consecutive victories at Imola and Miami. He also won in Saudi Arabia in the second race of the year. The Red Bull driver did not finish in the other two races in Bahrain and Austraila, and Leclerc took first in those events. 

Leclerc has finished in either first or second place in four of the five events. A bad break in strategy and then a spin following an overly aggressive move at Imola cost him a podium spot, and he landed in sixth place. 

Leclerc and Verstappen's teammates, Red Bull's Sergio Perez and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, may serve as the biggest threats to the championship hopefuls. 

Sainz is one of two Spaniards racing in his home Grand Prix. Fernando Alonso is the other, but his Alpine-Renault has struggled to begin the season.

Sainz owns three podium finishes in 2022 but did not finish in the other two races. Perez either landed in second or fourth place in each of the last four events following an 18th-place finish in Bahrain after a car failure on the last lap. 

Unless Sainz or Perez benefit from a different strategy, or catch Leclerc and Verstappen sleeping on the start, the duo will likely be fighting it out for the last spot on the podium. 

       

Does Mercedes Have Enough Power To Contend With Red Bull and Ferrari? 

Mercedes has not been in the upper echelon of the Formula 1 table through five races. 

George Russell has been a constant fixture in the top five, but he only has one podium finish. 

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton struggled at Imola and in Saudi Arabia. He rebounded with a sixth-place run in Miami, but that is still not up to the lofty standards he has set inside the Mercedes in years past, included a second-place overall finish last season. 

Russell and Hamilton showed positive signs during qualifying on Saturday, though, as they landed in fourth and sixth place on the grid. 

Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari were the only teams to place drivers on the first three rows of the starting grid. 

The strong qualifying runs may be indicators for what's to come for Mercedes on Sunday, when the goal should be for Russell and Hamilton to challenge for podium finishes. 

Mercedes might not have enough power to catch the two best cars on the circuit yet, but Sunday could help them close the gap and set up chances to win in the coming weeks at Monaco, Azerbaijan and Canada. 

     

Gambling problem? Call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369).

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visiting ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), visiting OPGR.org (OR), or calling/texting TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

Odds and lines subject to change. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.

Max Verstappen cruised to his third checkered flag of 2022 after winning the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday.

Max Verstappen is the 2022 Miami Grand Prix Champion 🏆 pic.twitter.com/wrUPorJJoV

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 8, 2022

Verstappen passed Charles Leclerc early in the race and then didn't look back from there. He held off a tough challenge from Leclerc inside the final 10 laps before steadily gaining more comfort at the front of the pack.

Leclerc ultimately finished nearly four seconds behind Verstappen in what proved to be a two-horse race. Carlos Sainz claimed a place on the podium in third.

Leclerc continued his strong start to the season by claiming the pole, narrowly edging out Ferrari teammate Sainz.

The Monte Carlo native only remained in that position for a little more than eight laps before Verstappen overtook him for the lead. The reigning F1 champion took advantage of being in the DRS range and catapulted into first on the inside.

Max's move on Charles to take the lead in Miami ⚔️🌴 pic.twitter.com/8ekrYvrZPZ

— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) May 8, 2022

Verstappen quickly widened his advantage after Leclerc locked up his car to lose valuable time.

Things weren't going much better elsewhere for the Ferrari team.

Gasps from the media center as Sainz's pit stop takes a whole 5 seconds. https://t.co/riwSVkOsvF

— Owen Poindexter (@owenpoindexter) May 8, 2022

With around 40 laps in the books, inclement weather appeared to be a possibility. Mother Nature was one of the few parties who could extend Leclerc a meaningful lifeline.

LAP 37/57

Will it stay dry until the end of the race? 🤔#MiamiGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/datOrksYH2

— Formula 1 (@F1) May 8, 2022

The virtual safety car was also brought out on the 41st lap because of a collision between Lando Norris and Pierre Gasly. The prolonged caution allowed Leclerc to make up a lot of ground on Verstappen.

NORRIS IS OUT!

The McLaren driver gets hit by a slowing Pierre Gasly to bring out the Safety Car with 16 laps to go!#F1 | #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/SACvb8JFH6

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 8, 2022

Verstappen maintained his hold on first coming out of the restart but couldn't restore the massive gulf he previously enjoyed on Leclerc. Leclerc kept knocking on the door and waited for an opening.

Charles Leclerc hounding Max Verstappen for the lead with five laps remaining. Any mistake by Verstappen and Leclerc will have an excellent opportunity to move into P1.

— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) May 8, 2022

That safety car really changed this race. Seems to be great battles now after what had been a pretty dry race. Leclerc vs. Verstappen, Perez vs. Sainz, Russell vs. Hamilton.

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) May 8, 2022

Verstappen simply wouldn't oblige, demonstrating why he's one of the best in the world.

The Spanish Grand Prix outside of Barcelona is on tap for F1 on May 22. Lewis Hamilton is the five-time reigning champion in the event, so it could be a great opportunity for the 37-year-old to earn his first victory in 2022.

Hamilton started in the sixth position Sunday and struggled to move up the leaderboard from there. He complained about his tires around the midway point, which summed up how he didn't have the car to compete with Verstappen, Leclerc, Sainz and Valtteri Bottas.

Four-time Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel said that he will not race in September's Russian Grand Prix after Russia launched a military attack on Ukraine on Thursday.

"For myself, my opinion is I should not go—I will not go," Vettel said during a Thursday news conference (h/t Jeff Gluck of The Athletic). "I think it’s wrong to race in the country. I’m sorry for the innocent people who are losing their lives and getting killed for stupid reasons and very, very strange and mad leadership."

F1 released a statement that it is monitoring the situation (h/t TMZ Sports): "Formula One is closely watching the very fluid developments like many others and at this time has no further comment on the race scheduled for September. We will continue to monitor the situation very closely."

World champion Max Verstappen also expressed reservations about racing in Russia.

"I think when a country is at war it's not correct to race there, that's for sure," Verstappen said, per Jerome Pugmire of the Associated Press. "But it's not only what I think, it's the whole paddock [that is] going to decide what we are going to do next."

The Russian Grand Prix is scheduled to be held on September 25 in Sochi.

Vettel's announcement comes amid the UEFA's reported decision to pull the May 28 Champions League final out of Saint Petersburg, per ESPN FC's Mark Ogden.

"Following the evolution of the situation between Russia and Ukraine, the UEFA president has called an extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee for 10 a.m. CET [4 a.m. ET] on Friday 25 February, in order to evaluate the situation and take all necessary decisions," UEFA said in a statement. "Further communication will be made after the meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee."

The football federations of Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic, who are scheduled to take part in a four-team single-leg World Cup qualifying playoff in March, also implored FIFA to move the matches out of Russia.

Common sense. pic.twitter.com/3TOGu5zs59

— ANDRES CANTOR (@AndresCantorGOL) February 24, 2022

Now the status of the Russian Grand Prix could be in question.

For nearly all of Sunday morning, it looked like Lewis Hamilton would capture his fifth straight Formula One title and a record eighth drivers' championship.

Then fate struck. And then race officials made a controversial decision that arguably cost Hamilton the crown.

Max Verstappen passed Hamilton on the 57th lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, capturing his first F1 title in the process. 

Hamilton held a massive lead over Verstappen for most of the race and was seemingly destined for a championship as he tried to preserve his tires in the final laps. Nicholas Latifi then crashed on lap 55, sending the safety car out to close the gap between the racers.

VERSTAPPEN WINS THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP!!

WHAT A FINISH!!!! HE'S DONE IT!!!

A last lap pass decides the title. What a season.#F1 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/3tpnyLo2DX

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 12, 2021

While it looked as if Hamilton would still be safe because of the presence of lapped cars between him and Verstappen, the FIA made the decision to allow cars to pass the safety car and set up a final dash to the finish between Hamilton and Verstappen.

With Verstappen having the far fresher tires, it was only a matter of time before he passed Hamilton and went on to victory.

Hamilton, the owner of the most grand prix victories (103) and podiums (181) in the series, had put on a clinic of tire preservation over the course of the race's second half and would have won with ease had the safety cars not allowed Verstappen to pit for fresher tires.

GOATSTAPPEN 🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐 pic.twitter.com/9h7wytW1Hp

— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) December 12, 2021

After the race, Mercedes filed two appeals, both of which were denied, confirming Verstappen as the champion.

The victory for Verstappen caps off a historic 2021 season that saw him lead the most laps in a single season of any racer in F1 history. 

The 24-year-old appears destined to challenge the 36-year-old Hamilton as the next face of the sport. Verstappen is backed by the powerful Red Bull team that has had a top-four finisher every year since 2009. Verstappen is their first champion since Sebastian Vettel won four straight from 2010 to 2013. 

Six of the 20 drivers in the Austrian Grand Prix declined to take a knee to protest racial injustice ahead of Sunday's Formula One race.

The sport promoted the anti-racism message in support of the Black Lives Matter protests in the United States, but acknowledged drivers had "the freedom to show their support for ending racism in their own way and will be free to choose how to do this," per Nate Saunders of ESPN.

Though 14 took a knee ahead of the Austrian national anthem, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Kimi Raikkonen, Daniil Kvyat, Carlos Sainz and Antonio Giovinazzi all remained standing, per Saunders.

Verstappen and Leclerc explained their thought processes on Twitter Sunday:

I am very committed to equality and the fight against racism. But I believe everyone has the right to express themself at a time and in a way that suits them. I will not take the knee today but respect and support the personal choices every driver makes #WeRaceAsOne #EndRacism

— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) July 5, 2020

I believe that what matters are facts and behaviours in our daily life rather than formal gestures that could be seen as controversial in some countries. I will not take the knee but this does not mean at all that I am less committed than others in the fight against racism.

— Charles Leclerc (@Charles_Leclerc) July 5, 2020

Lewis Hamilton is the sport's only black driver and kneeled while wearing a shirt that read "Black Lives Matter."

Hamilton, who is the reigning world champion in Formula One after an impressive 2019 season, spoke to his fellow drivers in a briefing Saturday while asking them to use their platform to speak out against racism.

"I still think there's people that don't fully understand what's happening and the reason for the protest," he said. "So I continue to try and be that guider, and influence as many people as I can with it."

The Austrian Grand Prix is the first event of the 2020 season after the schedule was changed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The drivers will remain on the same track for the Styrian Grand Prix set for next weekend.

Sebastian Vettel recorded Ferrari's fastest time so far in Formula One 2020 pre-season testing on Day 2 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain, but there was frustration for Lewis Hamilton, with his Mercedes suffering a power-unit failure.

The second week of testing resumed in Catalonia, where Vettel was one of several drivers to spin off the track on Thursday. That didn't prevent him clocking a fastest time of one minute, 16.841 seconds, though.

Mercedes were the dominant outfit in the first week of testing but haven't looked quite as promising in Week 2, with Valtteri Bottas finishing seventh and more than a second off the leading pace.

The official Formula One Twitter account posted the times from Thursday, with Vettel completing 144 laps:

Seb finishes on 🔝#F1Testing 🏁 Day 5 🏁 pic.twitter.com/6eylbC4SSA

— Formula 1 (@F1) February 27, 2020

Overnight rain caused disruption on Thursday when even the most respected drivers in the field had trouble keeping their cars on the track.

Most drivers venturing out early in the first session opted for intermediate tyres. Driving was hindered as a result, and it was only towards the end of this portion of testing that the times started to drop down to normal levels.

Vettel was responsible for a red flag with around 30 minutes remaining in the morning when he spun off the track at Turn 5 after losing his rear end:

Another spin at Turn 5 🚨

Vettel is the latest driver to go off after testing the limits #F1 #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/z5j5LFVCNm

— Formula 1 (@F1) February 27, 2020

It turned out well for the German as his SF1000 knocked Stroll off the top of the timesheets soon after returning to the track with a new fastest time of 1:17.093.

Vettel made the switch to C5 tyres—the softest available—and immediately improved his time by breaking the 1:17 mark for the first time in pre-season testing.

Stroll deserved credit for keeping the RP20 in contention at the top of the leaderboard despite recording the second-fewest laps of any driver in the opening session, per Autosport Live:

As for the laps completed, the tally is this:Vettel - 49Bottas - 47Latifi - 43Norris - 43Ocon - 37Gasly - 35Verstappen - 31Magnussen - 31Stroll - 30Giovinazzi - 16 #F1

— Autosport Live (@autosportlive) February 27, 2020

Alfa Romeo's Antonio Giovinazzi saw his morning round ended when he hit the barriers at Turn 4 and broke part of his rear wing, though AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly was still the slowest of the bunch in 10th before finding his top speed.

Renault's Esteban Ocon showed some signs of struggling to navigate the wet track in his R.S.20, while Verstappen spun off at Turn 5 earlier in the first session:

🚩 RED FLAG 🚩

Max Verstappen is beached in the gravel at Turn 5#F1 #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/WKZch0oDpS

— Formula 1 (@F1) February 27, 2020

Autosport's Luke Smith nodded to Verstappen's pre-season testing concerns thus far:

Red flag in testing as Max Verstappen beaches his car at Turn 5 - been having quite a few issues keeping his car on-track through testing thus far... #F1 #F1Testing

— Luke Smith (@LukeSmithF1) February 27, 2020

Hamilton's woes were the talking point of the afternoon session, and the world champion could only complete 14 laps before his car failure:

🚩 RED FLAG 🚩

Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes grinds to a halt during #F1Testing #F1 pic.twitter.com/fX5o6jU5ma

— Formula 1 (@F1) February 27, 2020

The Brit couldn't get back out on the track as investigations continued into his car's breakdown, and the Silver Arrows will be concerned by the latest developments in testing.

UPDATE: @LewisHamilton stopped on track due to an oil pressure anomaly, which made the engine shut down as a precautionary measure.

We will keep investigating further but unfortunately that concludes our running for the day #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/sOeumgFjTq

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) February 27, 2020

Vettel will be pleased with his vehicle's performance, with increased downforce aiding the German's lap times.

The Ferrari's straight-line speed seems to have decreased, but there are signs the car might be more competitive in races this term.

However, the Prancing Horse are playing their cards close to their chest in practice. Mercedes still appear to have the overall edge, but Ferrari could cause a surprise during the opening race in Australia on March 15.

Robert Kubica set the quickest time during 2020 Formula One pre-season testing on Wednesday at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

He topped the timesheet in his Alfa Romeo with a fastest lap of one minute, 16.942 seconds.

Max Verstappen went second-fastest for Red Bull during his 83 laps, ending 0.405 seconds behind Kubica's quickest run.

Windy conditions provided complicated driving conditions, but AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly and Alexander Albon of Red Bull gave eye-catching runs during the morning.

World champion Lewis Hamilton was seventh-fastest overall, and Mercedes completed 179 laps during a productive day as they tested their new steering design.

Here's Wednesday's classification:

🏁 CLASSIFICATION (END OF DAY 4) 🏁

P1 for Kubica 💪
Solid lapping all-round for our 1️⃣9️⃣ runners#F1 #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/Lyey95Zwu0

— Formula 1 (@F1) February 26, 2020

It was a cool morning in Barcelona so maintaining tyre temperature was vital, as Kubica discovered just over an hour into the session:

If you needed an indication of the chilly conditions... 🥶

Kubica gets crossed up at the chicane#F1 #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/qwx2UNDAR8

— Formula 1 (@F1) February 26, 2020

He wasn't the only driver to encounter difficulties in the early running.

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel took a trip into the gravel, while Nicholas Latifi had an issue with his Williams:

🚩 RED FLAG 🚩

Seb slides through the gravel at Turn 8 😨

He returns to the pits, but there's gravel to be cleared#F1 #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/RmIeDZ47Wp

— Formula 1 (@F1) February 26, 2020

🚩 Red flag is out again! 🚩

It's Williams new blood Nicholas Latifi this time, as his FW43 conks out going up the hill to Turn 9#F1 #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/oJRtxuPBt3

— Formula 1 (@F1) February 26, 2020

After some early duelling between Hamilton and Vettel atop the timesheet, Lance Stroll of Racing Point leapfrogged the pair with a 1:17.787 on medium tyres shortly before the halfway mark.

Before long, Hamilton was back on top, but he couldn't match the time set by Kubica with less than an hour remaining in the session.

The Mercedes man did record the most laps in the morning session, though, with 88, while Vettel was close behind on 84 during 65 minutes on the track.

Ferrari ended down the timesheets, but the Italian team produced conservative efforts as they limited the pressure on their cars.

The Prancing Horse refused to show their hand, keeping their straight-line speed controlled, but Vettel and Charles Leclerc looked good through the corners.

Testing continues on Thursday, with teams slowly pushing their engines harder before the first race of the season in Australia on March 15.

Former Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has said he believes Ferrari would rather work with Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen than sign six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

The British superstar has once again reigned supreme in the sport for Mercedes this season, and his contract with the Silver Arrows is set to expire at the end of the 2020 campaign.

According to Jonathan McEvoy for the Mail on Sunday, Ecclestone said Hamilton should consider quitting the sport if he wins a seventh world crown, and Ferrari would rather collaborate with Verstappen if Mercedes decide to leave the grid.

Speaking from the paddock ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday, the 89-year-old explained his thoughts:

"They [Mercedes] might think we have won seven world championships — which they will have done by the end of next year — so why stay?

"If I were Lewis I'd think, 'I've won another title', and I'd stop. If Charles Leclerc stays at Ferrari, I'd put money on him to win against Lewis. He's not necessarily better but he is established in the team.

"Ferrari is a strange place to work. Lewis doesn't speak Italian. They might gang up on him—or fall in love with him—but I don't think he would do as good a job for himself or the sport as he is doing with Mercedes."

Ecclestone explained he thinks Verstappen might already be a better driver than Hamilton, and the Prancing Horse might recognise this.

"If Ferrari had a choice of Lewis or Max Verstappen I think they would go for Max, for the same reason they like Charles.

"With Sebastian Vettel or Lewis they will only get a couple of years but with the younger two they might get 10 years. I'm not sure Max isn't the best guy at the moment, including Lewis."

Verstappen drove a sensational race at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on Sunday and outfought Hamilton on his way to victory.

The Red Bull man had earned pole position, and he flew off the line chased by Hamilton's car.

Both drivers swapped the lead multiple times, but Verstappen's aggression and tactics were rewarded with top spot on the podium.

Hamilton trailed in third but was handed a five-second penalty after a racing incident with Alexander Albon on the penultimate lap, demoting him down the order.

Ferrari are the dream constructor for most racers, and Hamilton would be tempted to join the Italians if Mercedes quit F1. However, a changing of the guard is taking place, and Verstappen and Leclerc are expected to earn future world championships.

Leclerc has already made strides since joining Ferrari, and Verstappen would have no reason to leave Red Bull if the British team can reproduce the form which saw them win the Constructors' Championship four times in a row from 2010.

The Red Bull was quicker than any other car during the race in Brazil, and the Milton Keynes-based team have the infrastructure in place to dominate F1 once again.