Hamilton Leads Tight Battle in Spanish Grand Prix Practice

Lewis Hamilton set the pace during Friday’s practice sessions at the Spanish Grand Prix, where Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull displayed closely matched performance.

The seven-time champion topped the timesheets by a mere 0.022 seconds over Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, with McLaren’s Lando Norris closely trailing in third, just 0.055 seconds off the pace.

However, Pierre Gasly’s Alpine surprised by securing the fourth-fastest time, underscoring the complexity of assessing competitive form based on Friday practice.

Max Verstappen of Red Bull expressed concerns about front grip and ended the day fifth, ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, and Mercedes’ George Russell.

Norris led the first practice session, showcasing McLaren’s potential, while the second session’s race simulations indicated a closely matched field among the top teams. Despite Verstappen’s edge, Red Bull opted for medium tires for his race runs, complicating direct comparisons with rivals who utilized soft tires.

Mercedes, keen to validate recent upgrades, demonstrated promising pace ahead of the Barcelona race weekend. Hamilton, optimistic about their progress, emphasized improved car performance and strategic clarity among drivers.

“The car was feeling great today,” said Hamilton. “We’re in a better place, and we’ll see if we can challenge the Ferraris, Red Bulls, and McLarens.”

Norris acknowledged the challenges posed by hot conditions but expressed confidence in McLaren’s competitive readiness similar to their performance in Canada.

Verstappen, focusing on refining car setup, aimed to address minor issues to optimize performance for upcoming sessions.

Both Ferrari and Red Bull introduced significant upgrades ahead of the European leg of the Formula 1 season. Ferrari’s drivers noted positive results from their upgrades but aimed to enhance long-run pace for the race.

Leclerc stated, “There is plenty to improve. I have a clear vision on what we need to do to make the car better, and I am confident tomorrow will show progress.”

The Spanish Grand Prix initiates a demanding sequence of races across Europe, including Austria, Silverstone, Hungary, and Belgium before the August break.