George Russell was fastest in first practice for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix as he got his pivotal weekend off to a flying start.
Russell has failed to score points in the last two Formula 1 grands prix after a terminal engine problem in Canada and a speeding penalty which led to a team blunder and another penalty in Monaco.
It has left the British driver 68 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who missed first practice in Barcelona as Mercedes were one of seven teams to run rookies in their cars – something the teams have to do four times during the season.
Russell was quickest on the medium and soft tyre runs, ending the session two tenths faster than Oscar Piastri who ran a new front wing on his McLaren.
Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle said: “He’ll have settled in nicely. The car obviously feels quite good.
“George knows this place like the back of his hand anyway. He’s fine. George is a professional. He’s brilliant. He’s world championship potential, he knows that.
McLaren have also had a difficult last two races but are hoping the return to a more conventional circuit will see them challenge Mercedes and potentially end the Silver Arrows’ unbeaten run on Sundays this year.
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Russell has said he feels like everything is going against him this season and the form of his team-mate Kimi Antonelli has not helped him
Ferrari have brought the biggest upgrade package to Barcelona, including a new floor and front wing, but Charles Leclerc was 0.520s slower than Russell.
There will also be some head scratching at Red Bull as Max Verstappen was six tenths off the pace, despite a new front wing on the RB22.
Italy’s Leonardo Fornaroli was the best of the rookies in fifth for McLaren, as he replaced Lando Norris, but the most impressive rookie was Estonia’s Paul Aron.
Paul Aron impressed for Audi in first practice (Memmler/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)
Aron drove in place of Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg and posted the sixth quickest time, nearly nine tenths quicker than full-time driver Gabriel Bortoleto and only one second off Mercedes’ Russell. Even if Aron was on low fuel, it was a standout time given Audi have a midfield car.
Dino Beganovic drove Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari and spent most of the session testing their new parts before he went eighth, in between the Racing Bulls of Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad.
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On the Sky Sports F1 Show podcast, Craig Slater and David Croft discuss Russell’s recent run of bad luck, but say he needs to raise his performance to get back into the fight with Antonelli
Former IndyCar star and current Formula 2 driver Colton Herta had plenty of attention in his first F1 practice session for Cadillac. He was visibly pushing hard but finished last of the drivers who set a lap.
Britain’s Luke Browning was unable to take part in first practice due to an electrical problem on his Williams, but will return at the next race in Austria.
Sky Sports F1’s Barcelona-Catalunya GP schedule
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Ahead of this weekend’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, we take a look back at some of the most dramatic moments from previous races at the circuit
Friday June 12
1.55pm: F3 Qualifying
2.50pm: F2 Qualifying
3.35pm: Barcelona-Catalunya GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)*
5.30pm: The F1 Show
6.30pm: Team Bosses’ Press Conference
Saturday June 13
9am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Barcelona-Catalunya GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint*
2.15pm: Barcelona-Catalunya GP Qualifying build-up*
3pm: BARCELONA-CATALUNYA GP QUALIFYING*
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday June 14
7.35am: F3 Feature Race
9.05am: Porsche Supercup
10.20am: F2 Feature Race
12.30pm: Barcelona-Catalunya GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
2pm: THE BARCELONA-CATALUNYA GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Barcelona-Catalunya GP reaction: Chequered Flag
5pm: Ted’s Notebook
*Also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 is in Spain for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix with live coverage on Sky Sports F1. Sunday’s race starts at 2pm. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
