Piastri Sets the Pace in Spanish GP Practice
In an exciting start to the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, Oscar Piastri took the crown in the second practice session, outpacing Mercedes‘ George Russell as the drivers continued to fine-tune their setups at the Circuit de Catalunya.
Piastri’s Dominance in FP2
The Formula 1 championship leader, Oscar Piastri, clinched the fastest lap of the day with a time of 1:12.760, showcasing Mclaren‘s strong performance. His teammate and title rival, Lando Norris, initially had the upper hand, clocking 1:13.718 in the earlier afternoon session, before settling for fourth in FP2.
Red Bull‘s Max Verstappen finished a close second in both practice sessions, while George Russell was just 0.286 seconds behind Piastri in FP2. Norris, currently just three points shy of Piastri in the championship standings, will aim to regain the lead on Sunday with a potential victory.
Challenges for Top Drivers
Verstappen faced a minor setback, losing approximately 20 minutes of track time in the morning session due to rear suspension adjustments. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, a six-time winner at this venue, struggled in FP2, finishing 11th after placing third in the earlier session.
Friday marked the debut of new front wings designed to comply with updated flex tests. Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, commented that it would take more sessions to truly assess their impact on car performance.
Its time to Shine
The practice sessions also featured two promising young drivers: Victor Martins made his debut in Williams, substituting for Alex Albon, while Ryo Hirakawa stepped in for Esteban Ocon at Haas. Both drivers gained valuable experience on the challenging Circuit de Catalunya.
As the teams prepare for qualifying on Saturday, Piastri’s strong performance positions him well for continued success in the championship battle amidst a fiercely competitive field.
