Mercedes Hits the Ground Running as Spain Practice Signals Mixed Form
Mercedes led the long-run pace in Friday practice for the Spanish GP, with George Russell quickest and Max Verstappen just 0.13s behind after tyre and stint adjustments; Ferrari and McLaren lagged by up to nearly a second, Norris had technical issues, and Madrid’s new surface is pushing questions about tyre degradation and setup shifts ahead of Saturday — Mercedes’ strong final-sector performance hints at a potential long-run edge despite an overall mixed picture.