European GP: Hamilton fastest, Ricciardo crashes

Baku - Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton set the fastest pace in Friday's opening practice at the European Grand Prix, ahead of team mate and Formula 1 championship leader Nico Rosberg.

A number of drivers ran off track on a bumpy, windy and dusty Baku street circuit, with Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo snapping off the right rear wheel in a collision with a barrier which brought out the red flag.

Challenging street circuit

Hamilton had a less serious brush with a wall but was still a third of a second ahead of Rosberg, with Valtteri Bottas third fastest, thriving on the 2.1km main straight as he got his Williams up to 351km/h.

Read: European GP -1st Practice - As it happened

McLaren's Fernando Alonso was an impressive fourth fastest, ahead of Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, 2.2 seconds off Hamilton's time.

Watch: Ricciardo crashes during Practice 1

Botto di #Ricciardo. #Sky #SkyMotori #SkyEuro2016 #BakuGP pic.twitter.com/PTl7axYcgn

— Salvatore Sabella (@Salvocampione93) June 17, 2016