F1 Spanish GP results:Verstappen and Norris Tie in Times as Ham

F1 Spanish GP results:Verstappen and Norris Tie in Times as Hamilton Str… read more

The 2025 Spanish Grand Prix weekend kicked off with intense competition as reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris posted identical lap times in practice. Both drivers clocked in at 1:13.070, though Verstappen was officially ranked ahead due to setting the time before Norris. However, it was Norris’ McLaren teammate and current championship leader, Oscar Piastri, who ultimately stole the spotlight in Friday’s second free practice (FP2), finishing at the top of the timesheets with an impressive 1:12.760.

Piastri’s commanding performance saw him finish over a quarter of a second ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, who bounced back strongly from a disappointing weekend in Monaco. Russell took second place in FP2, just ahead of Verstappen and Norris, who finished third and fourth respectively, separated only by milliseconds. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completed the top five, showing strong form after a promising FP1 session.

Friday’s practice sessions told contrasting stories for other top drivers. Lewis Hamilton, Leclerc’s teammate at Ferrari, started the day well, ending FP1 in third place just behind Norris and Verstappen. However, his pace faded in FP2 where he slumped to 11th, unable to maintain momentum from the morning. Meanwhile, local hero Fernando Alonso faced early setbacks. The two-time world champion experienced technical issues with his Aston Martin in FP1, forcing him out with under five minutes remaining. He recovered slightly in FP2, ending the session in seventh place—his best of the day.

A few fresh faces appeared on the grid during FP1 due to rookie driver swaps. Ryo Hirakawa temporarily replaced Esteban Ocon in the Haas, while F2 driver Victor Martins took over Alex Albon’s Williams. These changes were short-lived, and the regular drivers returned for FP2.

The FP2 top ten featured some interesting names beyond the usual front-runners. Kimi Antonelli, in his Mercedes, impressed with a sixth-place finish, just ahead of Alonso. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly ended the day in eighth, while Racing Bulls teammates Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson secured ninth and tenth respectively.

Behind them, Hamilton trailed in 11th, followed by Nico Hulkenberg of Kick Sauber and Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda. Carlos Sainz, now racing for Williams, only managed 14th, with his teammate Albon tying with Lance Stroll in 15th. The rear of the FP2 field featured Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber), Esteban Ocon (Haas), Ollie Bearman (Haas), and Alpine rookie Franco Colapinto, who did not set a representative time.

FP1 results earlier in the day had Norris fastest with a 1:13.718, ahead of Verstappen and Hamilton. Leclerc, Piastri, and Racing Bulls’ Lawson followed, with several young or less experienced drivers also showing pace early on.

As the weekend unfolds, the close timing between front-runners hints at a fiercely contested Spanish Grand Prix, with McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes all eyeing victory, while Ferrari and Aston Martin hope to capitalize on improvements.