\n<\/p>\n
Lewis Hamilton set the pace in Friday practice at the Spanish Grand Prix as Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull looked closely matched.<\/b><\/p>\n
The seven-time champion was just 0.022 seconds quicker than Ferrari\u2019s Carlos Sainz, with McLaren\u2019s Lando Norris third just 0.055secs off the pace.<\/p>\n
However, the risks of making assumptions about competitive form from Friday practice were underlined by Pierre Gasly\u2019s Alpine setting fourth-fastest time.<\/p>\n
Red Bull\u2019s Max Verstappen, complaining of a lack of front grip, was fifth ahead of Ferrari\u2019s Charles Leclerc, McLaren\u2019s Oscar Piastri and Mercedes\u2019 George Russell.<\/p>\n
In the first session, Norris set the pace from Verstappen.<\/p>\n
The race-simulation times later in the second session also suggested that the top teams were closely matched, with Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren all setting similar pace.<\/p>\n
However, while those teams did their race runs predominantly on the soft tyres, Red Bull chose mediums for Verstappen so his times could not be compared.<\/p>\n
Red Bull and Ferrari both have significant upgrades on their cars for the start of a run of races in the European heartland of Formula 1.<\/p>\n
Spain is the first of races on three consecutive weekends, followed by Austria and Silverstone, before a week\u2019s gap and then Hungary and Belgium back to back before the sport has its August break.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n