Hamilton and Verstappen report grip problems
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen both reported severe lack of grip in Friday practice for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix and sounded doubtful about fighting at the front. Hamilton, who sat out FP1 as Ferrari ran a rookie, ended FP2 ninth and said: “Clearly we are quite a chunk off, still,” adding that “the grip was the lowest… that I’ve ever had here.” Verstappen was also downbeat after finishing well off the pace, saying Red Bull has “a lot of work to do” and that they “for sure” will not challenge for the front row.
'No grip!' - Hamilton, Verstappen admit Spain struggles
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Ferrari may have found a surprise F1 Barcelona-Catalunya GP advantage
Hamilton on Ferrari still off the pace in Barcelona
Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari are “quite a chunk off” the front at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix despite bringing upgrades, after he only drove in second practice on Friday. Hamilton said: "I have zero feel of it, so I have no idea where… We're obviously not quick… Charles has obviously had two sessions, and I think he's four-tenths or something off the McLarens and the Mercedes, so clearly we're quite a chunk off still, but hopefully tomorrow we can try and close the gap a bit."
Hamilton reckons Ferrari ‘still a chunk off' in Barcelona
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Lawson on Barcelona practice interrupted by electrical issue
Liam Lawson said it was “frustrating” to have his running in Barcelona interrupted by an electrical issue, but added it was better for it to happen in practice than in qualifying or the race. Lawson said: "We had a small issue today that's relatively easy to fix, but unfortunately it meant that we couldn't take part in the main part of the session. While it's frustrating, it's much better for it to happen today opposed to tomorrow."
Liam Lawson draws silver lining from 'frustrating' on-track stoppage
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Verstappen on Red Bull's grip and balance struggles in Barcelona
Max Verstappen said Red Bull were “lacking grip” and struggling with the car’s balance after Friday practice at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Verstappen said: "Yeah, but we lose in the high speeds, the low speeds, the medium speeds, it's pretty much everywhere. The whole day [we were] just lacking grip and feeling with the car and balance, so that's something that we'll try to work on."
Verstappen explains Red Bull issues on Friday in Barcelona
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What the teams said – Friday in Barcelona-Catalunya
Are McLaren back in the fight against Mercedes in Barcelona?
Vasseur on Leclerc's Carbon Industrie brake trial in Barcelona
Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur said Charles Leclerc’s first practice-day running on Carbon Industrie brake discs at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix “went well” after the Monegasque switched from Brembo in an attempt to improve his braking feel. Vasseur said: "It's not so many laps because you have to do push, cool, cool, push…but it went well."
The early verdict on Leclerc's Ferrari brake experiment
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Gasly on missing Monaco podium celebrations after third was restored
Pierre Gasly said having his Monaco Grand Prix third place restored after his pit-lane speeding penalties were removed “won’t give me back what I lost”, because he missed the chance to experience the podium celebrations in Monte Carlo. Gasly said: "It won't give me back what I lost. I've accepted that already. As much as I would have liked to see how it looks, just stopping there, being on the podium with the prince, celebrating with the guys. These moments are what makes a career so special. It's not going to happen, it didn't happen, that's how it is. We'll have to do it another time."
Pierre Gasly admits restored Monaco GP podium "won't give me back what I lost"
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Antonelli on McLaren matching Mercedes' pace in Barcelona practice
Kimi Antonelli says taking a sixth win in succession is “not going to be easy” at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix after McLaren matched Mercedes’ pace in Friday practice. Antonelli said: "Definitely George looks very quick, McLaren look very quick as well so it's not going to be easy. We'll try to understand from tonight's work and we'll try to be ready for tomorrow."
Antonelli admits it's 'not going to be easy' in Barcelona
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Sainz on Williams' long-run pace deficit in Barcelona
Carlos Sainz says Williams are “one second off the midfield” on long runs at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix after the car’s “key weaknesses” were exposed in Friday practice. Sainz said: "But on the long run, when we start degging, we are one second off the midfield, so it is back to where we were in China, Suzuka, or Australia, which is quite a shock to all of us. We need to really have a look at this long-run pace and see what we can do. But I fear it is something pretty big."
"Quite a shock" - Carlos Sainz concedes Williams' heavy F1 deficit in Barcelona
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Hamilton on drivers struggling after missing Barcelona FP1
Lewis Hamilton said it was “unusual” that most drivers who missed the opening practice session in Barcelona appeared to be significantly further off their team-mates in FP2, after he sat out FP1 to hand his Ferrari to rookie Dino Beganovic. Hamilton said: "I only had FP2 so it was an unusual one in the sense that a majority of the drivers, maybe not Lando, those who missed the first session were quite far off their team-mates in the second session. The grip was the lowest, with this generation of car, that I've ever had."
Lewis Hamilton spies 'unusual' trend after challenging Barcelona practice
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Gasly on FIA transparency after Monaco pitlane penalty reversal
Pierre Gasly says he is proud of Formula 1 and the FIA for their transparency after the Monaco Grand Prix stewards rescinded his two five-second penalties for exceeding the pit lane speed limit, having found the pit lane length had been measured incorrectly by the official timekeepers. Gasly said: "But the team did an amazing job. I must say I'm very proud of F1, the FIA, for the transparency and everybody recognising their responsibilities in that situation. We all know that with everything at stake, when you look at world championships in all different sports, you know how complicated things can be. Today, it's a massive step forward for our sport."
Gasly “proud” of FIA after penalties rescinded: “It's a massive step forward for our sport”
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Winner and losers from Barcelona GP F1 practice
Is McLaren's return to form real? Barcelona F1 long-run analysis
Antonelli on no longer doubting himself after difficult 2025 spell
Kimi Antonelli says he no longer doubts his potential after a “difficult period” in Europe last year that led him to question himself. Antonelli said: "Not really, to be fair. I would doubt a lot about myself, especially during that period, that difficult period in Europe, but this year obviously has been a different story. Considering how bad it was in the moment, actually I'm very grateful that it happened, because it made me grow a lot and it taught me a lot about myself. This year, so far, I haven't been questioning or doubting myself."
Kimi Antonelli reveals turning point in dramatic F1 transformation
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Antonelli on tyre overheating and balance issues in Barcelona practice
Kimi Antonelli said tyre overheating and balance issues made it “tricky” to put a lap together after he finished fifth in second practice at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Antonelli said: "It's been a bit tricky over a single lap. The window is so small and the tyres are overheating quite a lot. Just trying to find the best balance. With only one lap for each set, it's always difficult but I think overall, there's still quite a bit of work to do. But I'm still confident ahead of tomorrow."
Why Kimi Antonelli was off the pace in Barcelona F1 practice
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Verstappen on Red Bull's grip and balance struggles in Barcelona
Max Verstappen says Red Bull cannot compete for the top positions at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix after struggling for grip and balance in Friday practice. Verstappen said: "We're losing out at high speed and at low speed - basically everywhere. All day long, we lacked grip, feel for the car, and balance. So that's what we need to work on. I don't think we can compete for the top positions; this is where we stand."
Max Verstappen draws painful Red Bull conclusion
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Norris on remaining concerns despite Friday pace in Barcelona
Lando Norris says there are still “things I’m not happy with” despite setting the pace on Friday in Barcelona. Norris said: "It's clear that the car's working better. It's probably not working as good as we want still, and there's still things I'm not happy with, and we need to improve and I want to improve, but I think we can't complain too much considering how the last month has been, and we'll just work hard tonight and see what we can maximise."
Lando Norris has "things I'm not happy with" despite topping F1 Barcelona practice
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Norris: McLaren ‘up there' but ‘still things I’m not happy with’
Norris on McLaren suiting Barcelona's faster layout
Lando Norris said the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya’s faster “regime” has McLaren “working in a better place” after he topped second practice for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Norris said: "It's quick, obviously very different to the last few tracks we've been to in Monaco and Montreal, so obviously a lot quicker, you're playing with the car in a very different regime to where we have been the last few weeks, and it seems to be also just working in a better place than the last few weeks. It's difficult with the wind and the conditions, so yeah, it just seems to be working better than the last few weeks, which is a good sign."
Lando Norris credits 'regime' change for McLaren recovery
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Wolff on ADUO system after FIA power unit rankings
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says Formula 1’s Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities system is “how it should be” after the FIA’s data placed Red Bull-Ford Powertrains at the top of the ADUO rankings, leaving it as the only manufacturer not entitled to the allowances. Toto Wolff said: "I think it was a protection mechanism, how it was intended to be, to avoid the 2014 situation that one engine manufacturer was having such an advantage and was running away with engine, with testing mileage and race results. We were on the good end of that, but this is what we wanted to avoid, especially newcomers coming in like Audi and to a certain degree Honda with Aston Martin, and Red Bull of course. That's what it is, and that's how it should be."
“How it should be” – Mercedes backs FIA's ADUO verdict after surprise Red Bull result
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Alonso given pit exit warning
Fernando Alonso has been given a warning by the stewards for crossing the white line at the pitlane exit during FP2 at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. A stewards’ statement said: “The outside edge of the left front wheel crossed the white line at pit exit.”
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McLaren back on the pace as Norris heads Russell in Barcelona FP2
McLaren's Lando Norris set the fastest time in second practice for the Barcelona GP but FP1 pacesetter George Russell was just 0.009s off behind
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