FP1 Barcelona: Strong start from George Russell, many rookies in action

The Formula 1 drivers were able to tackle the Barcelona weekend in glorious sunshine and a warm 29 degrees Celsius. The track had heated up to 48 degrees by the time the race started. Carlos Sainz stopped in the pit lane and had to be pushed back into the pits. His steering wheel was replaced there, which solved the problem that had prevented him from setting off.

Things went much worse on the other side of the pits. Luke Browning, who was allowed to complete his rookie stint in Alex Albon's GP racer, had to be patient because work was being carried out on the car.

Browning was not the only up-and-coming star in action; six other Formula 1 regulars had to make do with the role of onlooker as the Formula 1 contenders were deployed: Red Bull Racing's Ayumu Iwasa sat in Isack Hadjar's car, Ferrari had Dino Beganovic out in place of Lewis Hamilton, Fred Vesti stepped on the gas in world championship leader Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes, Paul Aron was out in Nico Hülkenberg's Audi, Leonardo Fornaroli moved out in Lando Norris' McLaren and Colton Herta made his debut in an official Formula 1 session in Sergio Pérez's Cadillac.

Ride out by Gabriel Bortoleto

The latter took the opportunity to test the limits early on. He skidded over the kerbs in the eighth corner and then asked the Cadillac team to have a look at the underbody on the left-hand side. Oscar Piastri had already been struggling with worries beforehand, reporting brake problems over the radio.

Despite the many rookies in the field, there were no interruptions for the time being. Instead, Liam Lawson was annoyed by Carlos Sainz, who was travelling in the middle of the track on the tenth corner - which was noted by the stewards. Ultimately, however, there were no consequences for the local hero.

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At the halfway point, the order was George Russell ahead of Piastri, Charles Leclerc, Lawson, Arvid Lindblad, Max Verstappen, Aron, Franco Colapinto, Sainz, Pierre Gasly, Gabriel Bortoleto, Valtteri Bottas, Esteban Ocon, Oliver Bearman, Beganovic, Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll, Herta, Iwasa, Fornaroli and Browning, who had still not completed a timed lap.

Bortoleto caused a brief yellow period when he crashed through the gravel at the exit of the eighth corner. Nevertheless, the Brazilian was able to continue under his own power, so Verstappen soon became the centre of attention.

Paul Aron proves his talent

On soft tyres, the four-time champion from the Red Bull Racing Team completed the 4.657 km lap in 1:17.047 minutes, taking over the top position. However, the 28-year-old Dutchman did not stay at the top for long, as soon as Russell had the soft tyres on the car, he set a new benchmark of 1:16.363 minutes.

No rival was able to match this time, and Russell was delighted to set the fastest time. For Browning, the session ended as it had begun - outside the cockpit. The Brit had not completed a single lap. The strongest rookie in the field was Aron, who was sixth fastest in Hülkenberg's GP car and was significantly faster than Bortoleto in the second Audi.

The Brazilian was visibly struggling, having already taken a ride through the gravel bed at the halfway point and then making a mistake in the first corner at the end.