F1 Spanish GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP1 & FP2
Friday's action from the seventh round of the 2023 Formula 1 season.
F1 heads to its seventh round this weekend and the second in a double-header after last weekend's Monaco Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen overcame a sudden downpour in the principality to claim his fourth Formula 1 victory of 2023, beating Fernando Alonso by 27.9 seconds.
He now leads the standings by 39 points from Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, with Alonso in third heading into his home race.
Several teams have brought upgrades to this weekend's round at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, including Mercedes and Ferrari.
FP1 starts at 12:30pm BST on Friday, with FP2 at 4pm BST.
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Verstappen goes fastest by 0.031s from Sainz with a 1:14.968.
Remember, he's on the medium tyres and Sainz was on softs. That will have the rest of the field worried.
Remember, he's on the medium tyres and Sainz was on softs. That will have the rest of the field worried.
After the initial exchanges, the medium and hard tyre compounds are on show with Verstappen improving his time on the yellow-walled tyre.
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Perez sets his first time of the session and goes 14th with a 1:16.982s.
Like Verstappen, he is on a Pirelli test compound.
Like Verstappen, he is on a Pirelli test compound.
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"Quite a lot of bottoming."
Russell is suffering again, reporting bouncing through the final corner.
Russell is suffering again, reporting bouncing through the final corner.
However, it must be noted that while the two Ferrari drivers set their times on the soft tyres, Verstappen is using the Pirelli test compound.
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But this doesn't last long as Verstappen goes faster, as do the two Ferrari drivers. Sainz now leads the way with a 1:14.999.
Ferrari is wasting no time at the start of this session.
Ferrari is wasting no time at the start of this session.
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Esteban Ocon sets the early pace with a 1:16.303
We said the track was busy - indeed, all 20 drivers are now circulating!
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For those joining an FP2 session for the first time, the session is likely to be bookended by some longer runs, with drivers completing qualifying sessions at the midpoint of the hour.
The track is quickly filling with Alonso one of the first to leave the garages.
Green flag
FP2 is go in Barcelona!
The light will go green at the end of the pitlane in a matter of moments to signal the start of FP2.
Verstappen was over seven-tenths clear of any other driver in FP1 with his Red Bull team-mate, Perez, second.
But behind the pair, the battle was fierce with Alpine, AlphaTauri, Hass, Ferrari and Mercedes all represented in the top 10.
But behind the pair, the battle was fierce with Alpine, AlphaTauri, Hass, Ferrari and Mercedes all represented in the top 10.
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Other than the utter domination of Verstappen, FP1 also saw the return of an old enemy - porpoising. The majority of teams suffered with the phenomenon throughout.
Andrea Stella explained McLaren's issues between the two Friday sessions.
Andrea Stella explained McLaren's issues between the two Friday sessions.
The clouds the appeared to carry a significant threat of rain towards the end of FP1 have now moved on, and the threat is just 10% for the coming hour of action.
Good afternoon and welcome to Autosport's coverage of second practice from the Spanish Grand Prix.
Right, we're off for a spot of lunch now, but we'll be back in a couple of hours ahead of FP2. In the meantime, you can watch qualifying for both Formula 2 and Formula 3
Read the full FP1 report here: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-spanish-gp-first-practice/10477215/
De Vries, Gasly, Alonso, Magnussen, the two Ferraris and Russell rounded off the top 10
So, with FP1 complete, Verstappen led from Perez and Ocon. Will Verstappen take his fifth win of the season on Sunday?
Checkered flag
The chequered flag is out
Small bit of contact there between Gasly and Sargeant - it's not the race yet, guys!
Turn 12 weather update: the grey clouds are closer, the wind has picked up and Autosport is no longer in need of some cheap shades.
More from our man on the ground, F1 Editor Matt Kew: “The outside of Turn 12 might very well be home to the dedicated Carlos Sainz grandstand, but the applause each lap leaves you in no doubt that Fernando Alonso is the home hero here.”
F1 Editor Matt Kew sends this picture from Turn 12 - the clouds are looking rather ominous
Both Ferraris are back in the garage now as we head into the final 10 minutes of FP1
George Russell has completed the most laps of any drivers so far this session, with 25
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De Vries slots into third ahead of Leclerc, who was quicker than his team-mate despite using the old bodywork
Carlos Sainz has now gone third in the new and improved Ferrari, 1.12s off Verstappen, despite running a tad wide at the exit of Turn 12
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The top two remains the same, but it's another different driver in third as Lando Norris sets a 1m15.783s in his McLaren
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Zhou Guanyu is the next driver to make it into the top three, with the Alfa driver less than 0.6s off Sergio Perez in second
It's great to see Mercedes sporting its Pride Star from this weekend to mark Pride Month:
Just after the halfway mark, Verstappen leads from Perez and Magnussen, with Gasly and Ocon completing the top five
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Again, not for long - Verstappen goes 0.7s quicker than Perez as the first driver into the 1m14s, this time with a 1m14.606s
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Perez is now quickest overall, 0.5s up on his team-mate, with a 1m15.374s
Norris is complaining of porpoising and bottoming into the final corner - much like Perez earlier in the session.
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Gasly splits the Red Bulls with a 1m16.363s as Max Verstappen improves even more, setting a 1m15.945s
Sainz is next to enter the top three with a 1m17.035s, just under 0.5s quicker than his team-mate
By: Autosport Staff
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