Spanish Grand Prix: Ferrari lead way in Practice 1, Mercedes show promise with upgrades

Championship leader Charles Leclerc and team-mate Carlos Sainz set the pace as the weekend got underway in Barcelona; Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was third-fastest; watch second practice live on Sky Sports F1 from 3.45pm (4pm start)

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets in Practice 1 at the Spanish Grand Prix

Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz laid down early markers for this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix as they topped the timesheet in Practice 1.

Championship leader Leclerc set the pace with a fastest lap of 1min 19.828sec, with Sainz just 0.079sec behind him. Reigning champion Max Verstappen was third-fastest in the Red Bull.

Meanwhile, there were encouraging signs for Mercedes and the updates they are debuting in Barcelona, with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton fourth and sixth respectively within a second of Leclerc.

More to follow…