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.
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
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
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.
