MELBOURNE, Australia -- Lewis Hamilton continued on where he finished up in 2016 by topping the timesheets in 2017's opening practice session at Albert Park.
The three-time world champion, searching for a fifth consecutive win in Formula One, clocked a 1:24.220 on the ultra-soft tyre midway through the session to finish 0.583s ahead of new Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas. For the early part of the session Bottas looked to have him Hamilton covered but the Briton was in a class of his own on the softer compound tyre.
Local hope Daniel Ricciardo was third quickest with a 1:24.