Norris edges Verstappen in Spanish GP practice

McLaren’s Lando Norris headed Red Bull’s Max Verstappen successful first believe astatine nan Spanish Grand Prix.

Norris was conscionable 0.024 seconds quicker than nan world champion arsenic some group their times connected nan fastest ‘soft’ tyre.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was 3rd fastest, 0.344secs disconnected nan gait but utilizing nan mean tyre for his champion lap, arsenic did Mercedes’ George Russell successful fourth.

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton were adjacent successful nan order.

Red Bull and Ferrari some person important upgrades connected their cars for nan commencement of a tally of races successful nan European heartland of Formula 1.

But Charles Leclerc was not happy pinch his Ferrari, complaining midway done nan convention that it was “horrendous for now”.

Only Sainz had nan afloat upgrade package connected his car for nan first session. Leclerc had nan caller rear helping and immoderate caller bodywork astir nan halo, but not nan caller floor, diffuser and motor cover.

Spain is nan first of races connected 3 consecutive weekends, followed by Austria and Silverstone, earlier a week’s spread and past Hungary and Belgium backmost to backmost earlier nan athletics has its August break.

It was a comparatively incident-free session, though location was a little red-flag play erstwhile a assemblage portion flew disconnected Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin done nan high-speed Turn Nine and landed connected nan track.

Alonso, whose past F1 triumph was astatine this arena 11 years ago, was ninth fastest, down nan Alpine of Esteban Ocon and up of Alex Albon’s Williams.