Overview

• Lando Norris set a 1:10.278 to lead Oscar Piastri by 0.292 seconds in FP1, with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso third and fourth.
• Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli caused a red flag after beaching his car at Turn 9, Yuki Tsunoda spun, and Max Verstappen slid into the Turn 1 gravel after a practice start post-chequered flag.
• Oscar Piastri arrives with a nine-point lead over Norris in the drivers’ standings, with Verstappen about 97 points off the top.
• Ferrari struggled for pace as Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished 14th and 15th, with Hamilton also surviving an early spin.
• Heavy rain was expected for FP2 and through the weekend, prompting teams to bank long-run data in FP1 and raising the prospect of mixed-condition qualifying and race sessions.