Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), Aug 27 (AP) Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas posted the fastest time in the first practice for the Belgian Grand Prix on Friday.

He was .164 seconds quicker than Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, who led for most of the session.

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AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly was .5 seconds behind Bottas with the third fastest time.

Although seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton finished 18th place, he was on course to set a leading time before he was impeded by the Williams car of Nicholas Latifi with about 10 minutes remaining.

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A slight downpour shortly before the start and overcast skies made for damp conditions on the 7-kilometer (4.3-mile) Spa-Francorchamps track.

Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda spun his AlphaTauri car early in the session and veteran Kimi Raikkonen clipped a wall with his Alfa Romeo entering the pits toward the end.

There is a second practice later Friday. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)