Liam Lawson driving for Racing Bulls in practice for the Spanish Grand Prix. Photo: Photosport
Liam Lawson has produced two top-10 finishes in practice for the Spanish Grand Prix while Formula One world championship series leader Oscar Piastri was quickest overall.
New Zealand driver Lawson pronounced himself happy with twin sessions for Racing Bulls that saw him place sixth and then 10th fastest at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Like the rest of the field, he needed to adjust to new wing foil specification introduced this week by F1 bosses to meet stricter flex tests.
He was pleased to continue his resurgent form after notching his first points of the season at last weekend's Monaco Grand Prix, when he placed eighth.
"It's been a positive day and a good start to the weekend. We've got a strong base to build on, but obviously tomorrow afternoon (qualifying) is what really counts," he said.
Kiwi Formula 1 driver Liam Lawson. Photo: photosport
"We'll keep working on improving the car. Everybody's chasing it and I think we were all a bit further away at the start of FP1 (first practice session) because of the new front wing, however we'll still be chasing the balance.
"I could definitely feel the difference in the car and we're in a good place right now, but obviously we'll be expecting every team to improve."
Piastri fastest
Piastri kept McLaren on top in the second session after teammate and title rival Lando Norris set the pace earlier in the afternoon.
The Australian lapped the Circuit de Catalunya with a quickest time of one minute 12.760 seconds after Norris, winner in Monaco, set a best of 1:13.718.
Australian Oscar Piastri of the McLaren F1 team. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Red Bull's Max Verstappen, last year's winner, was second and third respectively in the sessions with Mercedes' George Russell Piastri's closest rival in practice two - 0.286 slower - with Norris fourth (+0.310)
Norris has closed the gap to Piastri in the standings to only three points after eight of 24 rounds and will retake the lead on Sunday if he wins.
Verstappen, who took his first F1 win at the circuit in 2016, missed some 20 minutes of the first session with mechanics working to change the car's rear suspension.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton - winner a record-equalling six times in Spain - was third on the timesheets in practice one but only 11th later on when teammate Charles Leclerc was fifth fastest.
Friday was the first sighting of the new front wings but there was no immediate indication of any significant change.
Christian Horner and Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
"I think it's going to take more than one session to see if there is an impact. Or if so, how it's affected the different cars," said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.
"It didn't sound from the drivers' comments too different to a normal Friday."
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli was sixth fastest in practice two with Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso seventh and Alpine's Pierre Gasly eighth.
- Reuters
