The 2025 Spanish Grand Prix weekend kicked off at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with a lively and eventful FP1 session. Amidst ongoing technical developments and storylines both on and off the track, teams and drivers began laying the groundwork for what looks to be a tightly contested race weekend.
Norris Sets the Early Benchmark
Lando Norris carried his momentum from Monaco into Barcelona, setting the fastest time of the session with a 1:13.718 lap. His performance reinforced McLaren’s growing consistency at the front, while Max Verstappen slotted into second, 0.367 seconds behind. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top three, just 0.011 seconds off Verstappen’s pace, as Ferrari continued to show flashes of strong one-lap speed. Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri completed the top five, keeping the front of the field extremely competitive.
The rest of the top ten saw Liam Lawson continue his solid run of form in sixth, followed by Oliver Bearman, Isack Hadjar, Yuki Tsunoda, and Pierre Gasly.
Midfield Tightens as Russell and Others Search for Gains
The midfield battle was especially close, with George Russell finishing 11th for Mercedes. While not yet fully in the mix at the front, Mercedes appears to be gathering valuable data as they continue evaluating recent updates to their aero package, particularly the new front wing elements being trialed to comply with the FIA’s latest flexi-wing regulations.
Local Heroes: Alonso and Sainz Face Mixed Fortunes
Both Spanish drivers faced a mixed opening session in front of their home crowd. Fernando Alonso, despite initially looking strong on the harder tire compound, ultimately struggled after switching to softs and finished 13th. Alonso reported power loss issues over team radio, expressing frustration: while his engineer offered alternative strategies, Alonso made it clear that his priority was avoiding further straight-line speed deficits, saying he simply didn’t want to “lose two tenths every straight.”
Off-track, Alonso was officially named ambassador for the Barcelona circuit this weekend, a fitting honor given his long-standing connection to the venue and his role in championing its place on the F1 calendar.
Carlos Sainz, meanwhile, finished the session 15th as Williams opted to run on mediums during FP1. Sainz was also appointed as ambassador for the upcoming Madrid Grand Prix, which will debut on the calendar in 2026. His involvement in the project reflects growing Spanish influence across multiple F1 venues.
Rookie Appearances: Martins and Hirakawa Gain Experience
Following the regulations requiring rookie outings in practice sessions, both Williams and Haas fielded their junior talents. Victor Martins replaced Alex Albon for Williams and finished 19th, while Ryo Hirakawa took Esteban Ocon’s seat at Haas and placed 17th. Both rookies made steady progress and gathered crucial mileage, even as the circuit’s demanding layout exposed the fine margins of performance in modern F1 cars.
Mechanical Drama for Colapinto
One of the most dramatic moments of the session came from Alpine’s Franco Colapinto. The young Argentine was forced to retire early when his car caught fire at the rear, a worrying sight as smoke poured from the back of the car. Alpine quickly confirmed that the team would need to install a new internal combustion engine and exhaust system as a result of the fire damage.
Colapinto’s difficult FP1 adds to a rocky start to his F1 career, following his Emilia-Romagna qualifying crash and subsequent grid penalty for a pit lane infringement. Nonetheless, Alpine remains committed to his development, while hoping that mechanical issues won’t continue to derail his early opportunities.
FP1 Classification (Top 10)
- Lando Norris
- Max Verstappen
- Lewis Hamilton
- Charles Leclerc
- Oscar Piastri
- Liam Lawson
- Oliver Bearman
- Isack Hadjar
- Yuki Tsunoda
- Pierre Gasly
Early Takeaways
FP1 provided a very early glimpse at the weekend’s potential storylines: McLaren continuing to show pace, Ferrari well in the mix, Red Bull still firmly planted near the top, and plenty of technical intrigue across the grid. The midfield battle looks tighter than ever, and Barcelona’s upgraded track surface combined with warm conditions are setting up an unpredictable qualifying.