The F1 Spanish GP weekend kicks off with FP1. Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya hosts round nine of the 2025 F1 championship, and the final race of the European triple header.
The clampdown on flexi wings is the big talking point heading into the weekend. It received a mixed response across the paddock, with some downplaying its significance and others hoping the new technical directive will prove to be a gamechanger.
Barcelona welcomes the F1 circus with blue skies and sunshine, the temperature a sweltering 30 degrees at 13:30 local time, with track temp at over 42°C already.
Rookie FP1 drivers in action
Alex Albon and Esteban Ocon are sitting out FP1, making way for rookie talent.
Victor Martins is making his Formula 1 weekend debut with Williams, stepping in for Albon, while Ryo Hirakawa takes the wheel for Haas in Ocon’s place.
The F1 Spanish GP weekend is officially underway, with Liam Lawson the first to hit the track in the Racing Bulls car.
Hirakawa has a rough moment early on, running through the gravel at Turn 10 and quickly apologising over the radio.
Ten minutes into the session, Alonso sets the pace for Aston Martin with a 1:15.480, putting himself a tenth and a half ahead of Norris in second, while Leclerc moves to P3.
Liam Lawson’s frustration with Ferrari seems to have carried over from Monaco. Sporting aero-rakes on his car, Lawson is unimpressed after being impeded by Charles Leclerc at Turn 1. It appears Ferrari failed to give Leclerc the heads-up about the approaching car.
44 minutes remaining. A tense moment for Lewis Hamilton as he nearly collides with Isack Hadjar. The Ferrari driver attempted to squeeze past the slow-moving Racing Bull, but Hadjar seemed unaware of the approaching Mercedes and drifted dangerously close. Fortunately, no contact was made.
Norris goes fastest with a 1:15.259 on the hard tyre. Alonso second, Verstappen third, followed by Leclerc and Piastri.
Hards seem to be the preferred tyre early doors. So far, only Franco Colapinto and Lance Stroll are on the mediums.
Russell on mediums goes quickest with a 1:14.571.
Soft tyres shake up the order
With 30 minutes left to go, drivers are starting to make the switch to the soft tyre.
Nico Hulkenberg’s effort sees him shoot up to second. Leclerc goes purple in sector two to go fastest, but Verstappen, also on softs, goes even quicker, pushing Leclerc out of the top spot with his 1:14.085. Norris joins the soft tyre crowd. He goes purple in all three sectors, becoming the first driver to go below :14, with a 1:13.718 that puts him at the top of the leaderboard.
Championship leader Oscar Piastri is still finding his footing, making it into the top 5 on the softs, but quite a long way away from his teammate’s time.
Also on the soft tyre, Haas rookie Ollie Bearman slots into sixth place for Haas, just 0.303 seconds adrift of Piastri in fifth.
Replays reveal Piastri hit trouble and went wide, which likely explains the gap to his teammate.
Lawson climbs to P6 on the soft tyre, with Racing Bulls teammate Hadjar in P8. The team had a strong showing in Monaco, with both cars finishing in the top 10.
Hirakawa, meanwhile, reports bottoming issues in the Haas.
Final ten minutes
A snarky radio message from Alonso, who’s had a difficult start to the season, arriving in Barcelona fresh off a DNF in Monaco.
When suggested to switch to engine strat 3, Alonso snaps that he just wants a normal engine that doesn’t cost him two-tenths on the straight. He later adds there is “something wrong with the car.”
At the close of the session, the drivers perform their usual practice starts.
The top five is as follows: Norris, Verstappen, Hamilton, Leclerc, Piastri.
Stay tuned for FP2 later this afternoon.
