<ul>
<?php $i = 0; $the_query = new WP_Query( array( 'cat' => '1', 'posts_per_page' => 5 ) ); ?>
  
<?php while ($the_query -> have_posts()) : $the_query -> the_post(); $i++; ?>
  
<li>
 
<?php if ( $i == 1 ) { if ( has_post_thumbnail()) :  ?>
<?php the_post_thumbnail(array(230,163)); ?>
<?php endif; } ?>
 
<a href="<?php the_permalink() ?>"><?php the_title(); ?></a></li>
 
<?php
endwhile;
wp_reset_postdata();
?>
</ul>