Under the scorching Barcelona sun, Formula 1’s eagerly anticipated new technical directive, TD018, unfolded its first session with much anticipation but without the dramatic shake-up expected. McLaren, with Lando Norris at the wheel, set an unexpected pace, moving ahead of both Max Verstappen and Ferrari in the process.
The day was sizzling not only due to the heat but also because of the intrigue surrounding TD018. Red Bull and Ferrari found themselves tweaking their front wings to comply with these new regulations. However, it seems McLaren and Mercedes were already one step ahead, having debuted these adjustments earlier at Imola, deftly sidestepping any last-minute declarations required by the FIA’s recent directive.
Lando Norris was blazing fast, initially taking the lead with a time of 1:15.2 on hard Pirelli tires, two-tenths ahead of Fernando Alonso, with Max Verstappen trailing in third. When McLaren switched to medium tires, George Russell dramatically improved lap times, showing just how the temperature, which peaked at a toasty 49°C, could impact performance. Verstappen, in his attempt to regain ground, was in constant communication with his race engineer, which led to a curious exchange, ‘I’m not sure that’s what I want’, he remarked about the diff settings.
The drama didn’t stop there. Throughout the session, there were multiple incidents that kept the tension high. Liam Lawson had a close encounter of the wrong kind with a Ferrari, which led to more than a few exasperated voices over team radios. Lewis Hamilton also found his laps disrupted by a competing car, this time by Lawson’s teammate, Isack Hadjar.
Meanwhile, as Charles Leclerc ventured out with a goal of setting the fastest times on soft tires, Verstappen was hot on his heels, neither able to maintain superiority as Lando Norris delivered the fastest lap of 1:13.718, making it nearly four-tenths faster than Verstappen’s best.
The session ended with Norris maintaining his top position, a surprising 0.367 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen, with Lewis Hamilton narrowly behind. Meanwhile, other notable performances came from Oliver Bearman, who managed to position himself seventh despite teammate Ryo Hirakawa’s discomfort with the car’s bouncing issues. Fernando Alonso raised concerns about losing precious time on straights, indicating potential trouble brewing for Aston Martin.
As the checkered flag fell, the leaderboard had Norris, Verstappen, and Hamilton at the top three spots, with the top ten rounded out by drivers from various teams proving this session was just the opening act in what promises to be an exciting weekend. It was also a debut session for Victor Martins with Williams, stepping in for Alex Albon, and Ryo Hirakawa replacing Haas’ Esteban Ocon.
The Spanish Grand Prix’s first practice session under TD018 concluded with Lando Norris setting the benchmark, demonstrating that McLaren’s early preparation might pay off. As expectations were defied, the teams now look toward making the necessary adaptations, hinting at more fireworks in the upcoming sessions.
