Lando Norris Edges George Russell by 0.009s in Barcelona-Catalunya FP2

Lando Norris set the pace in Friday’s second practice for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, edging George Russell by 0.009s as Oscar Piastri stayed close behind.

Norris, who missed FP1 as McLaren reserve Leonardo Fornaroli drove in an F1 session for the first time, posted a 1m15.426s soft-tyre lap to lead the one-hour FP2.

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Conditions around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya were hot and windy, with Pirelli bringing a tyre range one step softer than last year’s compounds, and drivers reporting rapid tyre degradation during long runs.

Norris said, “We are up there with the people we want to be,” while also adding, “It's clear that the car is working better.”

Sky Sports F1’s Karun Chandhok said, “McLaren will be really encouraged,” after Norris topped the session and matched Russell lap for lap on race pace.

Antonelli, the 66-point championship leader, finished fifth and admitted his single hour of running in the Mercedes had proved “tricky” amid tyre overheating challenges.

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Max Verstappen finished sixth and described his tyres as feeling “horrendous” late on in the session on a long run amid sweltering track temperatures and gusty winds in Spain.

Lando Norris framed the day as progress but not perfection, telling reporters, “It's hard to know what fuel loads and stuff, power modes other people are on.”

With Norris leading FP2 by 0.009s over Russell and Piastri 0.057s behind, the focus now shifts to Saturday’s qualifying and the way tyre management could shape Sunday’s race.

The Sky Sports broadcast schedule listed final practice at 11.30am on Saturday followed by Qualifying at 3pm live on Sky Sports F1, after Friday’s session at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit.

Norris said the job was not finished, insisting there were “still things I'm not happy with” and that McLaren would “work hard tonight” to maximise what it has found.

Antonelli also pointed to changes ahead of qualifying, saying, “Overall, still quite a bit of work to do,” while adding, “I'm quite confident ahead of tomorrow.”