Norris fastest in first Spanish GP practice

BARCELONA:

McLaren's Lando Norris followed up his victory in Monaco by lapping fastest in first practice for the Spanish Grand Prix on 关键字3Friday, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen ending the session as his closest rival.

The Briton, winner last Sunday to close to only three points behind championship-leading teammate Oscar Piastri after eight of 24 rounds, set a best time of one minute and 13.718 seconds at the Circuit de Catalunya.

Verstappen was 0.367 slower but missed some 20 minutes of the session with mechanics working to change the car's rear suspension.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton -- winner a record-equalling six times in Spain -- was third on the timesheets, 0.378 off the pace and ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc (+0.520) with Piastri fifth (+0.576).

The session was the first in which teams used new front wings to meet stricter flex tests introduced for the Spanish weekend, but there was no immediate sign of any significant change.

Liam Lawson was sixth fastest for Racing Bulls with Oliver Bearman seventh for Haas, Isack Hadjar eighth for Racing Bull and Verstappen's teammate Yuki Tsunoda ninth. Alpine's Pierre Gasly completed the top 10.

Mercedes, McLaren's closest rivals in the constructors' standings, had George Russell 11th and Kimi Antonelli 18th.

The session featured two young drivers gaining experience, with Frenchman Victor Martins replacing Alex Albon at Williams and Japanese Ryo Hirakawa for Esteban Ocon at Haas.

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who was 13th in his Aston Martin, launched an impassioned defence, meanwhile, of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya which appears set to be ditched after 33 years of hosting the Spanish Grand Prix.

A new street circuit in Madrid is expected to be confirmed soon as host of the 2026 edition.

"I don't think that we will lose Barcelona, that's my opinion and my wish as well," said Alonso who is an ambassador for Barcelona F1.

"I think it's good to have new venues and countries, but we need to keep some traditional circuits where the history of F1 has been written."

Russell says Albon has more to pay after lobster dinner

George Russell says Alex Albon still owes him because the tab for a lobster pasta dinner picked up by his friend and Formula One rival after the Monaco Grand Prix was not enough to make amends for the race.

Mercedes driver Russell finished 11th last Sunday with Albon ninth and Williams teammate Carlos Sainz 10th, the pair using strategy to defend their scoring positions on an afternoon without overtaking.

Russell, who had scored points in every round up to Monaco, said afterwards that Albon would be paying for dinner and the Thai obliged.

"He ordered the most expensive thing on the menu," Albon told reporters hungry for more detail at the Spanish Grand Prix. "He did, actually. It was the lobster pasta.

"Lobster pasta, in Monaco... Monaco is not cheap. On race weekends, they bump up the prices everywhere."

Albon said he chose a carbonara, admittedly with wagyu beef, and Russell skipped dessert.

Asked whether it had been an expensive restaurant, Russell suggested Albon escaped lightly. "Not expensive enough. So, the bill is definitely not even just yet," he said.