Mercedes' George Russell fastest in FP1 from McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in Barcelona

Mercedes driver George Russell topped the timesheets in the first practice session for the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. The session featured several rookie drivers and was marked by minor technical issues for teams like Williams and McLaren.
Why it matters
Formula 1 practice sessions are vital for team data collection and testing new driver talent, influencing the competitive landscape of the season.
George Russell set the pace in Spain as seven rookie drivers stepped up for FP1.
The report is a standard factual summary of a sporting event.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in