Motorsport · Montmeló
Russell tops first Barcelona practice, Norris fastest later as rookies impress
George Russell set the pace in the opening practice session for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, while Lando Norris bounced back to top the afternoon timesheets. Seven rookies saw action in the first session, with McLaren reserve Leonardo Fornaroli grabbing fifth.
AI text based on reports by N-tv, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero and other publishers. Published . How it is made
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In brief
The Mercedes driver posted a 1:16.363, 0.203s faster than Oscar Piastri and 0.520s ahead of Charles Leclerc, with Max Verstappen fourth.
McLaren reserve Leonardo Fornaroli was the fastest of seven newcomers, beating Paul Aron and Dino Beganovic in his first run in the MCL40.
Lando Norris returned in the afternoon session and set the day's best time of 1:15.426, just 0.009s ahead of Russell.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli gave up his car to Frederik Vesti in the morning, then took fifth in the second session, half a second off the pace.
FP1: Russell sets the pace
George Russell lapped the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in 1 minute 16.363 seconds, ending the first practice session 0.203 seconds clear of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. The Mercedes driver, whose teammate and championship leader Kimi Antonelli sat out the morning, ran in sunny conditions with track temperatures reaching 50 degrees Celsius.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was third on the timesheets, 0.520 seconds slower than Russell, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took fourth. Seven regular drivers handed their cars to rookies: Antonelli, Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), Lando Norris (McLaren), Isack Hadjar (Red Bull), Alex Albon (Williams), Nico Hülkenberg (Audi) and Sergio Pérez (Cadillac).
- Russell
- 0 s
- Piastri
- 0.203 s
- Leclerc
- 0.52 s
- Verstappen
- 0.684 s
- Fornaroli
- 0.853 s
- Aron
- 0.958 s
Data from the article text
Rookies shine with Fornaroli fifth
Italian Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli, making his first appearance in a McLaren MCL40, set a notable 1:17.216 to place fifth.
“What a thrill to drive for the first time alongside the champions. I was a bit nervous, and my dad in the garage was too. An emotion I will not forget: I am happy with how it went.”
Estonian Paul Aron took sixth for Audi, while Swede Dino Beganovic was eighth in the other Ferrari. American Colton Herta, driving Pérez’s Cadillac, and Danish Mercedes reserve Frederik Vesti also took part.
Williams rookie Luke Browning failed to set a lap time after an electrical issue on Albon’s car. Esteban Ocon (Haas) and Pierre Gasly (Alpine) could only manage 16th and 17th.
FP2: Norris returns to top
World champion Lando Norris reclaimed the initiative in the second session, posting a 1:15.426 lap. Russell came just nine thousandths of a second behind, with Piastri a further 0.06 seconds back. Antonelli, back in the car, was fifth and about half a second off the pace.
- Norris
- 0 s
- Russell
- 0.009 s
- Piastri
- 0.06 s
- Antonelli
- 0.5 s
Data from the article text
Antonelli stays in championship control
Antonelli, who leads the standings by 66 points over Lewis Hamilton and 68 over Russell, sat out FP1 as mandated by the rule requiring each race driver to give up a session to a rookie at least twice per season. The 19-year-old Italian is chasing a sixth consecutive win this weekend.
The second practice session was the final track action of Friday. The Barcelona-Catalunya circuit hosts the seventh round of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
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Sources and context
- N-tvDer Sport-Tag: Barcelona als Kehrtwende? McLaren schlägt zurück
- Corriere della SeraF1 Gp di Barcellona: le prove libere in diretta. Russell il più veloce poi Piastri e Leclerc. Fornaroli 5° con la McLaren, Beganovic 8° in Ferrari
- Il MessaggeroGP di Catalogna, libere 1: Russell leader, stupisce Fornaroli, quinto con la McLaren e primo dei rookie
- Le Figaro.frFormule 1 : Russell le plus rapide des premiers essais libres à Barcelone, Hadjar et Hamilton remplacés
- George Russell
- Mercedes driver, fastest in FP1
- Oscar Piastri
- McLaren driver, second in FP1
- Charles Leclerc
- Ferrari driver, third in FP1
- Max Verstappen
- Red Bull driver, fourth in FP1
- Leonardo Fornaroli
- McLaren reserve driver and F2 champion, fifth in FP1
- Kimi Antonelli
- Mercedes driver and championship leader, sat out FP1
- Lando Norris
- McLaren world champion, fastest in FP2
- Frederik Vesti
- Mercedes reserve driver, replaced Antonelli in FP1
- Paul Aron
- Audi rookie, sixth in FP1
- Dino Beganovic
- Ferrari rookie, eighth in FP1
- Colton Herta
- Cadillac rookie and IndyCar winner
- Luke Browning
- Williams rookie, did not set a lap in FP1
- Lewis Hamilton
- Ferrari driver, second in standings, sat out FP1
- Isack Hadjar
- Red Bull driver, sat out FP1
- Esteban Ocon
- Haas driver, finished 16th in FP1
- Pierre Gasly
- Alpine driver, finished 17th in FP1
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