2024 Spanish GP FP1: Norris Heads Off Versappen

Lando Norris edged out Max Verstappen in the first practice session, setting a competitive tone for the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix.

Ben

By Ben Bush
Updated on October 10, 2024

Lando Norris Mclaren FP1 2024 Spanish Grand Prix
Lando Norris Mclaren (Car No.4) FP1 2024 Spanish Grand Prix.

Lando Norris led the opening practice session of the Spanish Grand Prix, outpacing Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz for the first of three consecutive race weekends.

The teams were met with sunny conditions at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for FP1, following a mixed weather weekend in Canada. The session began with cars lining up in the pit lane, ready for the green light.

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Oliver Bearman was among the early drivers on track, filling in for Nico Hulkenberg in the Haas for his second of six planned practice sessions in 2024.

At the start of the session, several teams tested new upgrades, with many aiming to optimise existing improvements. However, not all drivers had a smooth session. Sergio Perez, facing a three-place grid penalty, reported throttle issues, while Charles Leclerc described his Ferrari’s performance as “horrendous.”

Mid-session, Verstappen topped the leaderboard with a lap time of 1m 15.424s, but Norris reclaimed the lead with a lap of 1m 14.228s, edging out Verstappen by 0.024 seconds. Sainz secured third place in his Ferrari.

George Russell, coming off a podium finish in Montreal, was the fastest Mercedes in fourth place, followed by Perez and Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren. Lewis Hamilton, Esteban Ocon, Fernando Alonso, and Alex Albon completed the top ten.

Leclerc finished eleventh, with Valtteri Bottas and Pierre Gasly closely behind. Lance Stroll and Daniel Ricciardo followed, with the latter in a significantly upgraded car.

Rounding out the field were Zhou Guanyu, Kevin Magnussen, Logan Sargeant, Bearman, and Yuki Tsunoda. The session concluded with a focus on resolving traffic issues and retrieving debris from Alonso’s Aston Martin, which briefly interrupted the practice with a red flag.

Spanish GP FP1 Results

2024 Spanish Grand Prix FP1, 21 June 2024

PosNoDriverCarTimeGapLaps
14Lando NorrisMcLaren Mercedes1:14.22827
21Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing Honda RBPT1:14.252+0.024s27
355Carlos SainzFerrari1:14.572+0.344s31
463George RussellMercedes1:14.614+0.386s31
511Sergio PerezRed Bull Racing Honda RBPT1:14.692+0.464s28
681Oscar PiastriMcLaren Mercedes1:14.867+0.639s29
744Lewis HamiltonMercedes1:14.911+0.683s28
831Esteban OconAlpine Renault1:15.086+0.858s30
914Fernando AlonsoAston Martin Aramco Mercedes1:15.222+0.994s26
1023Alexander AlbonWilliams Mercedes1:15.417+1.189s25
1116Charles LeclercFerrari1:15.434+1.206s26
1277Valtteri BottasKick Sauber Ferrari1:15.472+1.244s24
1310Pierre GaslyAlpine Renault1:15.484+1.256s21
1418Lance StrollAston Martin Aramco Mercedes1:15.512+1.284s28
153Daniel RicciardoRB Honda RBPT1:15.580+1.352s30
1624Zhou GuanyuKick Sauber Ferrari1:15.616+1.388s24
1720Kevin MagnussenHaas Ferrari1:15.644+1.416s30
182Logan SargeantWilliams Mercedes1:15.752+1.524s25
1950Oliver Bearman1Haas Ferrari1:15.865+1.637s29
2022Yuki TsunodaRB Honda RBPT1:15.916+1.688s21
1Oliver Bearman, reserve driver for Haas, replaced Nico Hulkenberg in FP1.

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Chief Editor

Ben Bush
Ben

Ben is our chief editor specialising in F1 from the 1990s to the modern era. Ben has been following Formula 1 since 1986 and is an avid researcher who loves understanding the technology that makes it one of the most exciting motorsport on the planet. He listens to podcasts about F1 on a daily basis, and enjoys reading books from the inspirational Adrian Newey to former F1 drivers.

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