Mercedes' Russell Quickest in Opening Barcelona F1 Practice
George Russell led Barcelona practice with a 1:16.363 lap, 0.203 seconds faster than Oscar Piastri, as Mercedes gave reserve driver Frederik Vesti track time.
- On Friday, Mercedes' British driver George Russell topped the opening practice session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with a fastest time of 1:16.363.
- Championship leader Kimi Antonelli sat out the session as Mercedes gave track time to reserve driver Frederik Vesti to fulfill the rookie participation mandate twice yearly.
- Australia's Oscar Piastri secured second place, 0.203 seconds behind Russell, while Charles Leclerc took third in his upgraded Ferrari, 0.520 seconds off the pace.
- McLaren reserve Leonardo Fornaroli finished fifth, while Alpine's Pierre Gasly struggled in 17th complaining of suspension issues and Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto hit the gravel with "zero grip."
- Antonelli enters the weekend chasing a sixth straight triumph on Sunday, aiming to extend his championship lead as the team prepares for the next phase of racing.
27 Articles
27 Articles
Kimi Antonelli did not participate in the first hour of free training in Barcelona, being one of the seven replaced in the FP1 by several novice pilots in the initial session. Then, in the free 2 and seemed to have difficulty reaching his best pace in front of his partner, George Russell
McLaren's Italian talent Leonardo Fornaroli caused the biggest surprise in Barcelona.
F1: Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix: Practice team notes
The Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix weekend got underway on Friday with three drivers sharing the duties in the car for the team. FP1 saw Third Driver Fred Vesti get his first taste of the W17, taking Kimi's place for the first of four mandatory... More »
Less than five days after the end of a thrilling Monaco Grand Prix, Formula 1 drivers had an appointment this afternoon in Barcelona for the first free trials of the seventh round of the season. A session that allowed some rookies to drive, as the rules require (rookies have to play at least two test sessions each season). Dane Frederik Vesti thus borrowed the Mercedes of the leader of the Kimi Antonelli championship, Italian Leonardo Fornaroli …
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