Norris fastest in first practice for F1 Spanish GP
Lando Norris of McLaren has topped the first practice session for the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix.
Last weekend's Monaco GP winner clocked 1 minute 13.718 seconds on Friday to beat the Red Bull of four-time defending champion Max Verstappen by 0.367s.
Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari was third, followed by team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Drivers' championship leader Oscar Piastri was fifth, 0.576s behind team-mate and title rival Norris.
Mercedes were 11th and 18th with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli respectively, while home favourite Fernando Alonso was 13th in the Aston Martin.
Following the race in Monaco, Piastri retained his lead in the standings, but only three points ahead of Norris.
McLaren have dominated the season so far, with Piastri winning four and Norris two of the eight races. Verstappen is the only non-McLaren driver to claim victory at a Grand Prix this year.
Second practice was scheduled for later on Friday, with qualifying for Sunday's showdown set for Saturday.
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Australia's Formula One championship leader Oscar Piastri has grabbed pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix ahead of McLaren teammate Lando Norris. Piastri leads Norris by three points in the standings after eight of 24 races. Defending champion Max Verstappen will start Sunday's race from third in his Red Bull. He is 25 points off Piastri's lead. It was the Australian's fourth pole of the season. Red Bull's Verstappen was one spot clear of Mercedes' George Russell. Verstappen and Russell set identical times with the former taking the higher grid slot after setting his time first. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton qualified fifth with Kimi Antonelli sixth for Mercedes and Charles Leclerc, who completed just one quick lap in Q3, seventh. McLaren have won six of the eight rounds so far, and their rivals might have hoped that a clampdown on flexible front wings - which some believe has contributed to the British team's rise - would slow them down. 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Norris said: "Oscar drove very well. The pace was there but I made a few mistakes." Hamilton called his car "undriveable" in practice on Friday, but he will take comfort from out-qualifying Leclerc for the first time since the second round in China, albeit half-a-second back from Piastri. Home favourite Carlos Sainz qualified a disappointing 18th while Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda will prop up the grid after he clocked the slowest time with just eight tenths separating first to last in Q1. British rookie Ollie Bearman progressed to Q2, and will line up from 15th, two places clear of Esteban Ocon in the other Haas. Australia's Formula One championship leader Oscar Piastri has grabbed pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix ahead of McLaren teammate Lando Norris. Piastri leads Norris by three points in the standings after eight of 24 races. Defending champion Max Verstappen will start Sunday's race from third in his Red Bull. He is 25 points off Piastri's lead. It was the Australian's fourth pole of the season. Red Bull's Verstappen was one spot clear of Mercedes' George Russell. Verstappen and Russell set identical times with the former taking the higher grid slot after setting his time first. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton qualified fifth with Kimi Antonelli sixth for Mercedes and Charles Leclerc, who completed just one quick lap in Q3, seventh. McLaren have won six of the eight rounds so far, and their rivals might have hoped that a clampdown on flexible front wings - which some believe has contributed to the British team's rise - would slow them down. However, the rule tweak has done little to influence McLaren's speed, with Piastri and Norris embroiled in a tense battle for pole. Norris secured top spot in Monaco a week ago before going on to claim his first win since March's season-opening round in Melbourne. He ended the first runs in Q3 holding a slender 0.017 sec margin over his team-mate. Norris enjoyed a tow off Piastri's McLaren with the Australian calling his team-mate's antics "cheeky". The McLaren duo returned for a final shot at pole and although Norris improved on his first lap, it was Piastri who lit up the timesheets by taking his fourth pole of the season by two tenths. "I am very happy," said Piastri. "It didn't start off in the best way. I was struggling but I found pace and the car has been mega. "I improved quite a lot in Turn 1 on my second lap and it all came together. It wasn't the perfect lap. It is going to be an interesting one tomorrow and I am pretty glad I am starting from pole." Norris said: "Oscar drove very well. The pace was there but I made a few mistakes." Hamilton called his car "undriveable" in practice on Friday, but he will take comfort from out-qualifying Leclerc for the first time since the second round in China, albeit half-a-second back from Piastri. Home favourite Carlos Sainz qualified a disappointing 18th while Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda will prop up the grid after he clocked the slowest time with just eight tenths separating first to last in Q1. British rookie Ollie Bearman progressed to Q2, and will line up from 15th, two places clear of Esteban Ocon in the other Haas. Australia's Formula One championship leader Oscar Piastri has grabbed pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix ahead of McLaren teammate Lando Norris. Piastri leads Norris by three points in the standings after eight of 24 races. Defending champion Max Verstappen will start Sunday's race from third in his Red Bull. He is 25 points off Piastri's lead. It was the Australian's fourth pole of the season. Red Bull's Verstappen was one spot clear of Mercedes' George Russell. Verstappen and Russell set identical times with the former taking the higher grid slot after setting his time first. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton qualified fifth with Kimi Antonelli sixth for Mercedes and Charles Leclerc, who completed just one quick lap in Q3, seventh. McLaren have won six of the eight rounds so far, and their rivals might have hoped that a clampdown on flexible front wings - which some believe has contributed to the British team's rise - would slow them down. However, the rule tweak has done little to influence McLaren's speed, with Piastri and Norris embroiled in a tense battle for pole. Norris secured top spot in Monaco a week ago before going on to claim his first win since March's season-opening round in Melbourne. He ended the first runs in Q3 holding a slender 0.017 sec margin over his team-mate. Norris enjoyed a tow off Piastri's McLaren with the Australian calling his team-mate's antics "cheeky". 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Home favourite Carlos Sainz qualified a disappointing 18th while Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda will prop up the grid after he clocked the slowest time with just eight tenths separating first to last in Q1. British rookie Ollie Bearman progressed to Q2, and will line up from 15th, two places clear of Esteban Ocon in the other Haas.
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