Formula 1 Today: Norris Leads the Pack in Spanish Grand Prix FP1
McLaren’s Lando Norris stole the show in the first Free Practice session of the Spanish Grand Prix, clocking a blistering time of 1:14.228. Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz closely followed, rounding out the top three.
Mercedes driver George Russell finished fourth, with Sergio Perez fifth and Oscar Piastri sixth. Seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton saw the chequered flag in seventh, with Alpine’s Esteban Ocon in eighth. Fernando Alonso and Alex Albon completed the top 10.
The session saw the drivers push to the limit, with Norris’s pace proving unbeatable. Verstappen, hot on his heels, was mere milliseconds behind, while Sainz showed Ferrari’s pace with a solid third-place finish. Russell’s fourth-place finish hinted at Mercedes’ competitiveness, while Perez and Piastri demonstrated Red Bull’s and McLaren’s strengths, respectively.
Hamilton, struggling to find pace, managed a respectable seventh, while Ocon’s eighth-place finish showed Alpine’s potential. Alonso and Albon wrapped up the top 10, showcasing Aston Martin’s and Alpine’s capabilities.
The full classification is as follows:
| Position | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Laps |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1. | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:14.228 | – | 27 |
| 2. | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:14.252 | 0.024 | 27 |
| 3. | Carlos Sainz Jr | Ferrari | 1:14.572 | 0.344 | 31 |
| 4. | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:14.614 | 0.386 | 31 |
| 5. | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | 1:14.692 | 0.464 | 28 |
| 6. | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:14.867 | 0.639 | 29 |
| 7. | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:15.911 | 0.683 | 28 |
| 8. | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | 1:15.086 | 0.858 | 30 |
| 9. | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:15.222 | 0.994 | 26 |
| 10. | Alex Albon | Alpine | 1:15.417 | 1.189 | 25 |
Formula 1 qualifying is set to take place later today, with the drivers looking to secure the best possible starting positions for tomorrow’s Grand Prix. With tyre strategy crucial in Barcelona, the teams will need to carefully consider their Formula 1 tyres choices to maximize their chances of success.
Stay tuned for further updates from the Spanish Grand Prix, including the latest Formula 1 standings and news from the paddock.
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