\n<\/p>\n
Russell singled out Turns Five, Seven and 17, where Hamilton’s team-mate Charles Leclerc went off into the run-off area during practice.<\/p>\n
“Another element of the challenge here, which probably won’t cause major crashes, but I think there’ll be a lot of lock-ups,” said Russell.<\/p>\n
“You’ve got three corners where you’re turning and braking, and if you lock up, the wall is right in front of you, which is very reminiscent of the corner in Baku – Turn 15.”<\/p>\n
There is also a section of high-speed swerves, Russell said, which is similar to the fast Jeddah street track in Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
Ferrari set the pace on the medium tyres in the first part of Friday’s opening session but they could not match the pace of the Mercedes on the soft compound.<\/p>\n
Leclerc was third fastest – 0.459secs off Russell and just ahead of Hamilton – with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen fifth and McLaren’s Lando Norris’ sixth.<\/p>\n
Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad, Mclaren’s Oscar Piastri, Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg and Red Bull’s Liam Lawson completed the top 10.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n