McLaren’s Lando Norris narrowly outpaced Max Verstappen in a Practice One session that delivered a competitive start to the Spanish Grand Prix weekend.
On a weekend billed as a litmus test of the chasing pack’s recent gains against Red Bull around a circuit where the championship-leading RB20 should excel, it was McLaren who set the opening pace around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, albeit only just with Norris finishing 0.024s clear of Verstappen after a best lap of 1:14.228.
While the leading pair set their best times on the theoretically quicker soft-compound tyres, Ferrari and Mercedes’ drivers set theirs on the slower mediums.
Spain’s own Carlos Sainz was therefore in the mix himself in third place, finishing just 0.344s adrift on the slower compound, for Ferrari with George Russell close behind fourth in the first of the Mercedes.
They both finished quicker than fifth-fastest Sergio Perez (Red Bull) and sixth-placed Oscar Piastri (McLaren) who, like their respective pacesetting team-mates, ran on the softs too.
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Yuki Tsunoda avoids hitting George Russell during the first practice session at the Spanish Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton was seventh quickest in the other Mercedes, seven tenths off the ultimate pace, although lost time on his quickest lap with a wide moment at Turn 10.
Ferrari and Red Bull debuted their respective latest round of car upgrades in the opening session, with the Italian outfit’s package featuring seven new items as they bid to bounce back from their wretched and point-less Canadian GP last time out.
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Debris from Fernando Alonso’s car brings out the first red flag at the Spanish Grand Prix
The opening session was briefly red-flagged when a part flew off the front wing of Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin and dropped on to the track. After repairs to his car, Alonso finished ninth quickest as he begins his 21st home GP weekend in F1.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s live Spanish GP schedule
Friday June 21
1.55pm: F3 Qualifying
2.50pm: F2 Qualifying
3.35pm: Spanish GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
5.25pm: F1 Academy Qualifying
6.15pm: The F1 Show
Saturday June 22
9.35am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Spanish GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.10pm: Spanish GP Qualifying build-up
3pm: Spanish GP Qualifying
5pm: F1 Academy Race 1
Sunday June 23
7.45am: F1 Academy Race 2
9am: F3 Feature Race
10.30am: F2 Feature Race
12:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Spanish GP build-up
2pm: The SPANISH GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag: Spanish GP reaction
Formula 1 heads back to Europe as the championship moves on to Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix and the start of a triple-header. Watch every session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime
