Spanish GP - FP1: Norris sets the pace while Ferrari makes some progress

The Spanish Grand Prix kicked off under scorching Barcelona skies, and after a busy first practice session, it's Lando Norris who has thrown down the gauntlet. The McLaren driver, fresh from his Monaco triumph, continued his stellar form to top the timesheets, signalling strong intent for the weekend ahead. With air temperatures hovering around 30.7°C and the track hitting a sizzling 49.6°C (later nudging 50°C), conditions were challenging, but many teams got straight to work, understanding the importance of data gathering at this familiar Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Norris Sets Blistering Pace to Dominate FP1

Lando Norris was simply in a league of his own during the opening 60 minutes of practice. Piloting his McLaren, he was the only driver to dip into the 1 minute 13 second bracket, setting a benchmark of 1:13.718s on the soft C3 compound tyre. This impressive lap put him a considerable 0.367 seconds clear of his nearest challenger, Max Verstappen. Norris completed a solid 29 laps, looking utterly at ease and confident pushing his MCL60 to the limits. The Woking-based team often thrives in hotter conditions, and this early showing suggests their package is well-suited to the Spanish heat. With teammate Oscar Piastri just three points ahead in the championship, Norris is clearly aiming to reclaim the top spot this weekend, and this FP1 performance is a perfect start. His ability to extract maximum performance immediately highlights both his skill and the car's current competitiveness.

Verstappen Close Behind, But Key Rivals Show Strength on Harder Compounds

Max Verstappen, now partnered by Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull Racing for 2025, settled into second place. His best effort of 1:14.085s, also on the soft tyres, demonstrated that Red Bull are in the mix, though they often tend to build performance through the weekend. The Dutchman will undoubtedly be looking to close that gap to Norris as the sessions progress.

However, perhaps the most intriguing performances came from drivers who opted not to use the softest C3 compound, hinting at underlying pace that could be crucial for Sunday's Grand Prix.

Ferrari's Hamilton Shines on Hard Tyres

Making a statement in his new Ferrari colours for the 2025 season, Lewis Hamilton was a remarkable third fastest, clocking a 1:14.096s. Crucially, this lap was set on the C1 hard compound tyre, the toughest of Pirelli's allocation for this weekend. To be just 0.011s off Verstappen's soft-tyre benchmark, and a mere 0.378s from Norris, while on the most durable rubber, is a significant indicator of the Ferrari's potential. It suggests strong inherent pace and possibly excellent tyre management, which will be vital in the high-degradation conditions expected. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, backed up Ferrari's promising start by placing fourth with a 1:14.238s, his time coming on the soft compound. The Scuderia did not sound overly confident coming into the weekend, but their on-track performance, particularly Hamilton's, paints a different picture.

Piastri and Others Show Pace Without Softs

Championship leader Oscar Piastri also kept his powder dry regarding the soft tyres, placing his McLaren fifth with a 1:14.294s on the hard compound. This meant a gap of over half a second to his teammate Norris, but running a different programme suggests McLaren are exploring all avenues. The Australian will be keen to unleash his full potential on the softer rubber later.

Further down the order, several other drivers posted competitive times on harder compounds. Oliver Bearman, in the Haas, was an impressive seventh (1:14.597s) on the hards. Yuki Tsunoda, in his first official session as a Red Bull Racing driver, was ninth fastest (1:14.643s), also on the hard tyres, a solid debut alongside Verstappen. Pierre Gasly rounded out the top ten for Alpine with a 1:14.746s, another time set on the C1 compound. This clustering of hard-tyre runners in the top ten suggests that the true pecking order is far from established, and teams like Mercedes and Williams, who also eschewed softs, could make significant gains when they bolt on the red-marked tyres.

Midfield Action and Rookie Showings

The midfield battle looks as intense as ever, with several Friday drivers also getting valuable track time.

Racing Bulls Duo in the Top Ten

Racing Bulls had a strong session, with Liam Lawson continuing his resurgence. After a good weekend in Monaco, Lawson placed sixth here in FP1 with a 1:14.339s on the softs. He did reportedly have a lock-up causing some flat spots, but his overall pace was encouraging. Teammate Isack Hadjar, who impressed with a P6 finish in Monaco, also featured well, securing eighth place with a 1:14.605s on the soft compound, showing good consistency.

Mixed Fortunes for Other Teams

Alpine saw Pierre Gasly in P10 on hard tyres, a respectable showing. However, rookie Franco Colapinto, in the other Alpine, had a more challenging session. He finished P20 with a 1:15.530s on softs, and his car was being worked on in the garage as the session drew to a close, limiting his running.

Haas F1 Team had Oliver Bearman deliver a standout performance for P7 on hards. Ryo Hirakawa, driving in place of Esteban Ocon for this session, had a more typical rookie outing. He had a brief off-track excursion through the gravel, apologising to his team, but Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu stated Hirakawa's "performance and feedback has been fine." Hirakawa ended P17 on the hard tyres with a 1:15.298s.

Kick Sauber continues to search for form. Nico Hulkenberg was the first to bolt on the soft tyres mid-session, eventually finishing P14 with a 1:14.865s. His rookie teammate, Gabriel Bortoleto, was P16 on the hard compound, his best a 1:15.155s. The team remains at the bottom of the championship and will be looking for improvements.

Williams, now featuring Carlos Sainz for 2025, saw the Spaniard end the session in P15 (1:14.935s) on hard tyres. Victor Martins, taking over Alex Albon's car for FP1, was P19 (1:15.522s), also on the hard compound. Like Mercedes, Williams focused their running on the harder compounds, meaning their true pace relative to those who used softs is yet to be revealed. Martins was one of the first out on track when the session went green.

Mercedes had a relatively muted session on the timing sheets, but this was by design as they didn't run the softs. George Russell was P11 (1:14.751s) on the medium C2 tyre, having switched from an initial hard tyre run. Kimi Antonelli, who has faced a tricky couple of races after his Miami high, finished P18 (1:15.369s), also on mediums. Mercedes expects to be more competitive here after a difficult Monaco, and their true potential should emerge in FP2. Antonelli, in particular, will be looking for a clean weekend to rebuild confidence.

Technical Focus and Track Challenges

FP1 wasn't just about headline lap times; it was a crucial hour for data collection and understanding new regulatory nuances.

New Front Wing Regulations Under Scrutiny

A significant talking point coming into the Spanish Grand Prix weekend is the tougher load tests on front wings being imposed by the FIA from this round. The governing body is tightening these tests to address concerns about wing flexibility and any potential aerodynamic advantages teams might gain. FIA Single Seater Director Nikolas Tombazis explained that this move was prompted by observations throughout the 2024 season, particularly as championship battles intensified, leading to increased scrutiny between teams. This first session would have been an early opportunity for teams to assess their designs under these new constraints. Several cars were seen sporting aero rakes, gathering crucial aerodynamic data.

Scorching Barcelona Heat

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya lived up to its reputation for warm weather. With track temperatures soaring towards 50°C, tyre degradation will be a major factor throughout the weekend. These conditions traditionally favour teams like McLaren, whose cars often perform well in the heat, while Mercedes has historically found higher temperatures more challenging. Managing the Pirelli C1, C2, and C3 compounds – the hardest in the range – will be key.

Data Gathering Paramount

With Catalunya being such a well-known test track, teams were fully engaged in extensive run programmes. The stable weather and three practice sessions provide a golden opportunity to gather high-quality data, not just for this weekend but for correlation with wind tunnel figures and informing future development. Laps were plentiful, with many drivers quickly reaching double figures in their completed lap counts.

Alonso's Home Race Hiccups

For home hero Fernando Alonso, FP1 brought a mixed bag. Driving for Aston Martin, he showed early promise on the hard tyres, even briefly topping the timesheets with a 1m 15.480s. However, his session was later hampered by car troubles. Alonso reported a lack of power down the straights, and further radio communications hinted at ongoing issues. He eventually parked his AMR25 in the garage a bit before the chequered flag, climbing out of the car and ending his session in P13 with a best time of 1:14.798s set on soft tyres. Aston Martin will be working hard to resolve these problems before FP2. Alonso, who is yet to score a point in the 2025 season despite a couple of retirements from points-paying positions, will be desperate for a smoother run on home soil.

Drivers Under the Spotlight

Several drivers arrived in Barcelona needing a strong weekend. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, after a challenging Imola and a Q1 crash in Monaco, is looking to reset. Yuki Tsunoda, adapting to his new Red Bull Racing seat, will want to make an immediate impact after fading slightly post-Imola and a Q2 exit in Monaco. Pierre Gasly, following his race crash in Monaco, aims for redemption. Franco Colapinto is still finding his feet at Alpine, and Fernando Alonso is under pressure to deliver for Aston Martin and open his 2025 points account.

Looking Ahead to FP2

With the chequered flag waving to conclude FP1, Lando Norris sits comfortably atop the times. However, with many key rivals, including his McLaren teammate and the Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton, showing strong pace on harder tyres, the battle is far from over. Mercedes and Williams are also yet to show their hands on the soft compound.

The true pecking order is likely to become clearer in Free Practice 2, which gets underway at 17:00 local time (15:00 UTC). Expect more qualifying simulations on the soft tyres and the beginning of long-run race pace analysis. The insights gained will be crucial as teams fine-tune their setups for what promises to be a fiercely contested Spanish Grand Prix.