Five days after winning the prestigious Monaco GP for the first time to inject fresh impetus into his world championship challenge, Norris was immediately back at the head of the timesheet at a scorching Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya via an impressive fastest time on soft tyres of 1:13.718.
Norris finished 0.367s clear of Red Bull’s Verstappen and 0.378s ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, whose Barcelona weekend began in encouraging fashion on single-lap pace.
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The rest of the field were over half a second behind – including Norris’ championship-leading team-mate Oscar Piastri, who was fifth behind the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.
“The big question – has that Monaco win given Lando the necessary boost of confidence that he has found his mojo again and is back to his best?” asked Sky Sports F1’s Nico Rosberg, the 2016 world champion.
“It looked like it out there, he was absolutely flying.”
The session was the first since the long-trailed introduction of stricter load tests for front wings from this race weekend onwards, a change made by the FIA in order to reduce the tolerance by which front wings can ‘flex’ when out on track.
Most teams ran new front wings in opening practice as a result of the new rules – although McLaren did not, seemingly having already run their Barcelona-compliant wing at an earlier event.
Mercedes were the other leading team not running a new front wing, although they have introduced changes to the W16’s floor and rear wing as they chase improved performance following two disappointing races.
George Russell was their lead runner in 11th, although he only ran the slower medium tyres.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s Spanish GP schedule
Saturday May 24
9.40am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Monaco GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.10pm: Monaco GP Qualifying build-up
3pm: MONACO GP QUALIFYING
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday May 25
6.55am: F3 Feature Race
8.35am: F2 Feature Race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Monaco GP build-up*
2pm: The MONACO GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered Flag: Monaco GP reaction
5pm: Ted’s Notebook
5.30pm: The Indy 500
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Next up in F1’s European triple-header is the ‘Jewel in the Crown’, the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend, with Sunday’s race starting at 2pm. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
