P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen and Lando Norris could not be separated, but there is work to do for both after Oscar Piastri gained the upper hand.
Max Verstappen showed promise early on as his car seemed to be well-suited to the circuit. Despite not leading the timesheets, Verstappen can be content with his performance on the day.
George Russell from Mercedes posed a threat by outpacing Verstappen by a small margin, hinting at a competitive weekend ahead. However, all eyes were on McLaren’s Piastri, who set the fastest lap time of the day.
Verstappen and Norris shared identical lap times, but it was Piastri who emerged as the driver to beat in the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix. The high temperatures on the track put additional strain on the tires during the practice sessions.
As the day progressed, Russell managed to set the pace on soft tires, with Verstappen and Norris closely following. Piastri eventually took the spotlight by setting an unbeatable time for the day.
Several other drivers, including Leclerc and Hamilton, faced challenges with their cars’ drivability during the practice sessions. The competition remains tight, with the top 14 drivers within a second of each other.
