Lewis Hamilton Responds in Style as British Stars Shine During Spanish Grand Prix Practice
Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton reminded fans of his formidable talent at the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend, delivering a strong performance during Friday’s first practice session (FP1). The Ferrari driver, who has faced recent criticism amid a challenging season, finished third fastest at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, sending a clear message that he’s far from done in the sport.
It was fellow Brit Lando Norris, however, who stole the spotlight early on. The McLaren driver topped the FP1 timesheets with an impressive lap time of 1:13.718, continuing his excellent form and proving once again that McLaren is a serious contender on race weekends. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, fresh off a dominant win in Monaco last weekend, had to settle for second place, finishing just 0.367 seconds behind Norris.
Hamilton was a close third, just 0.378 seconds off Norris’s pace, showing promising pace for Ferrari. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, slotted into fourth, a further 0.142 seconds adrift, giving the Italian team strong hopes for a competitive weekend. Leclerc, who secured Ferrari’s best result of the season with a second-place finish in Monaco, will be looking to build on that momentum.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri rounded out the top five, while Racing Bulls had both drivers—Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar—showing up well in sixth and eighth, respectively. Ollie Bearman, standing in for Haas, was a surprise inclusion in seventh, delivering a solid performance that will only boost his growing reputation in the paddock.
Meanwhile, it was a frustrating session for Spanish home hero Fernando Alonso. The two-time world champion suffered a technical issue late in FP1 that forced him to miss the final five minutes of the session. Despite the setback, he managed to post the 12th fastest time, though he was over a second off the pace. His Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll finished just behind in 13th.
The session also featured two rookie driver appearances as part of F1’s effort to give young talent more track time. Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa stepped in for Esteban Ocon at Haas, while Formula 2 star Victor Martins drove Alex Albon’s Williams. Both rookies found themselves towards the back of the field, with Hirakawa finishing 17th and Martins 19th.
Elsewhere, George Russell struggled to find pace in his Mercedes, ending the session in 11th, while his rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli came 18th, nearly 1.7 seconds off Norris’s benchmark. The Mercedes team, which has been chasing consistency all season, will likely analyze their data carefully ahead of FP2 and qualifying.
There was also a mixed session for the Kick Sauber team, with veteran Nico Hülkenberg finishing 14th and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto in 16th. Carlos Sainz, now at Williams, could only manage 15th, which will be a disappointing result for the Spaniard in front of his home crowd.
Pierre Gasly put in a quiet but steady performance for Alpine to finish 10th, while teammate Franco Colapinto brought up the rear in 20th, capping off a tough session for the French outfit.
Overall, FP1 set the tone for what promises to be an exciting Spanish Grand Prix weekend. With Norris looking strong, Hamilton showing flashes of vintage form, and Verstappen lurking close behind, the stage is set for a competitive battle. Ferrari’s improved pace suggests the team could challenge Red Bull and McLaren in qualifying and beyond.
For Hamilton, who has faced increased scrutiny this season, finishing ahead of Leclerc and within touching distance of the frontrunners was a satisfying result. As the veteran driver aims to make a mark in what could be his final season in red before moving to Mercedes in 2026, Barcelona may well prove to be a pivotal moment in his campaign.
