McLaren's British driver Lando Norris takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya ahead of the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix.
Defending Formula One World Champion Lando Norris laid down an early marker for the Spanish Grand Prix weekend after setting the absolute fastest time in Free Practice 2 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Friday.
The McLaren driver clocked a blistering best lap of 1:15.426, edging out Mercedes' George Russell by a mere 0.009 seconds in one of the closest and most fiercely contested Friday sessions of the season so far. Norris has endured a complex campaign following the dramatic 2026 technical regulation reset, which catapulted a resurgent Mercedes back to the front of the grid.
Yet, rather than shrinking under the pressure, the young Briton has displayed immense composure and grit, routinely over-delivering in a McLaren machinery package that has occasionally lacked the ultimate raw pace of its rivals.
Meanwhile, his teammate Oscar Piastri completed a highly encouraging top three, ending the session just 0.057 seconds adrift of Norris to highlight McLaren's inherent stability through the demanding Spanish sweeps. It is a highly welcome sign of structural recovery for CEO Zak Brown, who grew accustomed to seeing both his drivers dominate the front rows during last year's dominant championship run.
