© Getty Images2024 Spanish Grand Prix - Free Practice ReportThe Bulls put in a high lap count as they struggle for set up on day one in Spain
MaxandChecowereleftscratchingtheirheadsondayoneoftheSpanishGrandPrixattheCircuitdeBarcelona-Catalunyaaftertheygrappledtofindtherightsetup.Checo’swoeswerefurthercompoundedwithanengineissuecausinghimtomissouton10minutesofrunningtimeinthelattersession.
Max finished the sessions in P2 and P5, while his teammate finished P5 and P13.
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Max and Checo headed out in the Spanish sunshine with the track temperature nudging 46C on the hard tyre, which for this race will be the C1 – the hardest compound in Pirelli’s range.
After their first flying laps, both Bulls returned to the pits for a flap adjustment and the change worked, with Max setting a 1:15.424 for a provisional P1. He then returned to the pits to change his front wing, but did not complete another push lap on the hard tyres.
With 30 minutes remaining in the session Max and Checo returned to the track on the C3 soft tyre for one qualifying lap each. Max flew round in 1:14.252, placing him P1 at that moment, while Checo set a 1:14.692, placing him P2 at that point.
The Bulls finished the session with some race simulation, high-fuel laps. Checo put in 13 timed laps on the soft tyre, whereas Max completed 10 on the soft tyres, before bolting on the hard tyres for three timed laps.
Lando Norris stole the top spot from Max by just 0.024s leaving the Bull in P2 at the end of the session. Checo dropped to P5, with Carlos Sainz in third and George Russell, fourth, splitting the two Bulls.
Pit Crew Doing Their Thing© Getty Images
The Bulls both went out on track on the medium compound tyres and after one flying lap each, they returned to the pitlane for a flap adjustment. On their second push laps, neither driver improved and both returned to the garage to tweak their cars.
Checo returned to the track, but it was obvious there was an issue and without completing a full rotation of the track, he returned to the pits to make changes to the car. There were clearly issues as the engine covers came off and the Team surrounded the car to try and fix the problems.
With 20 minutes remaining, Checo was able to get out on track on the red-walled soft tyre. He put in one flying lap, a 1:14.081, which would see him in P13, where he would stay. It seemed the issue wasn’t fully fixed and Checo once again returned to the garage. Despite this, he finished his session with 10 high-fuel laps on the medium tyre.
After his first stint, Max also re-joined the action on new, soft rubber. He put in one flying lap of 1:13.504, with two purple sectors, but it only placed him third. Max also finished the session with some race-simulation laps, completing 12 laps on the mediums and five on the softs.
At the chequered flag Max had dropped to P5, 0.240s off the top of the timesheet, which was taken by Lewis Hamilton. Carlos Sainz finished in P2 with Lando Norris in P3.
The Team are back on track tomorrow for FP3 (12:30 track time) followed by qualifying (16:00). Keep coming back to the Race Hub for all the exclusive content on the Team and drivers.
Tinted Visor Time!© Getty images
| Rank | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | | 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:14.228 | - |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 1:14.252 | +0.024 |
| 3 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 1:14.272 | +0.344 |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:14.614 | +0.386 |
| 5 | Sergio Pérez | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 1:14.692 | +0.464 |
| 6 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:14.867 | +0.639 |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:14.911 | +0.683 |
| 8 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | 1:15.086 | +0.858 |
| 9 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:15.222 | +0.994 |
| 10 | Alex Albon | Williams | 1:15.417 | +1.189 |
Throwing The RB20 Into The Turn© Getty images
