FP1 – Friday Morning

• George Russell (Mercedes) topped the session with a best lap of 1:05.542, leading by just 0.065 s ahead of Max Verstappen Oscar Piastri (McLaren) was third fastest, setting the pace early for McLaren

• McLaren’s rookie Alex Dunne impressed in Norris’s car, finishing fourth, only 0.069 s off Piastri’s time 

• Lewis Hamilton ended the session ninth, hampered by gearbox issues

Top 5 – FP1

1. George Russell – 1:05.542

2. Max Verstappen – +0.065s

3. Oscar Piastri – +0.155s

4. Alex Dunne – +0.224s

5. Pierre Gasly – +0.238s 

FP2 – Friday Afternoon

• Lando Norris (McLaren) led a commanding McLaren 1‑2, setting the fastest lap at 1:04.580 

• Oscar Piastri followed closely in second, just +0.157 s behind Norris

• Max Verstappen finished third, +0.318 s off Norris, signaling a strong challenge from Red Bull Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) impressed with fourth (+0.442 s), while Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) took fifth (+0.610 s) 

• Lewis Hamilton ended FP2 in tenth, continuing his difficult weekend

Top 5 – FP2

1. Lando Norris – 1:04.580

2. Oscar Piastri – +0.157s

3. Max Verstappen – +0.318s

4. Lance Stroll – +0.442s

5. Charles Leclerc – +0.610s 

Analysis & Insights

• McLaren’s Strength: A dominant double-header from Norris and Piastri signals strong car balance and setup for high-speed corners on this circuit.

• Mercedes: Russell's early FP1 pace suggests recovery from previous setbacks, while Norris’s FP2 dominance reflects a shift in team focus.

• Red Bull: Verstappen consistently competitive, but still trailing the McLarens in FP2.

• Ferrari & Aston Martin: Leclerc and Stroll demonstrating potential, though Hamilton continues to struggle.

Race Engineer Insight: Mercedes and Red Bull are working on cooling and altitude adaptations, while McLaren seems to have found stable setups early.