Spanish Grand Prix FP1: Norris leads the way in Barcelona as red flag interrupts session
Lando Norris Tops Opening Practice Session at Spanish Grand Prix
Lando Norris showcased impressive pace in the opening practice session of the Spanish Grand Prix, clocking the fastest time to edge out Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz. As Formula 1 embarks on a demanding triple-header, dry and sunny conditions at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya provided a welcome backdrop for teams and drivers.
Early Action on Track
The session began with multiple cars queuing in the pit lane, keen to make the most of the favorable weather conditions following a weekend of mixed weather in Canada. Among the first to hit the track was Haas’ Oliver Bearman, who took the wheel of Nico Hulkenberg’s car for the second of his scheduled six practice appearances with the team this season.
Many teams opted to use the initial part of the hour for essential testing. With upgrades introduced ahead of the weekend, the session was crucial for fine-tuning and optimizing performance.
Challenges and Complaints
Despite the productive start, not everything went smoothly. Sergio Perez, who will serve a three-place grid penalty on Saturday, reported issues with his throttle pedal, and his engineer promised further discussions back in the garage. Over at Ferrari, Charles Leclerc voiced his frustrations, stating, “The car is horrendous for now.”
Mid-Session Drama
Midway through the session, Verstappen topped the timesheets with a lap of 1m 15.424s. However, as times began to rapidly tumble, a red flag was brought out to clear a piece of debris from Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin off the track.
After the brief stoppage, traffic became an issue for several drivers, with Leclerc particularly vocal, complaining about Lance Stroll’s positioning on the track. In the final moments of the session, Norris clinched the top spot with a blistering 1m 14.228s in his McLaren, finishing 0.024s ahead of Verstappen, who encountered clutch issues. Sainz secured third place.
Top Ten Standings
- Lando Norris - McLaren - 1m 14.228s
- Max Verstappen - Red Bull - +0.024s
- Carlos Sainz - Ferrari - +0.150s
- George Russell - Mercedes
- Sergio Perez - Red Bull
- Oscar Piastri - McLaren
- Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes
- Esteban Ocon - Alpine
- Fernando Alonso - Aston Martin
- Alex Albon - Williams
Notable Performances
Leclerc concluded the session in P11, with Valtteri Bottas taking P12 in the Kick Sauber, as the team searches for their maiden points of the year. Pierre Gasly in Alpine was P13, Stroll P14, and Daniel Ricciardo P15, driving an RB with significant upgrades.
Kick Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu finished in P16, followed by Kevin Magnussen of Haas in P17 and Logan Sargeant of Williams in P18. Oliver Bearman and Yuki Tsunoda completed the standings in P19 and P20, respectively.
Looking Ahead
With FP1 wrapped up, teams and drivers now have crucial insights to discuss and refine before they head out for the second practice session, aiming to further perfect their strategies and setups for the remainder of the Spanish Grand Prix weekend.
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