During a practice session where several drivers faced challenges, Lance Stroll recorded the fastest lap time. The session saw spins and off-track excursions, with rain anticipated for the upcoming weekend.

Stroll’s impressive lap occurred later in the session, possibly benefiting from improved track conditions compared to fernando Alonso and other leading contenders.

Alex Albon in his Williams secured the fifth-fastest time, followed by Max Verstappen of red Bull and george Russell driving for Mercedes. Russell’s teammate, Kimi Antonelli, experienced a setback, missing a notable portion of the session after an incident at Turn Nine that triggered a red flag.

Ferrari seemed to be struggling, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finishing in 14th and 15th positions, respectively. Leclerc voiced his frustration over the team radio, stating they were “nowhere”.

yuki Tsunoda of Red Bull also had an incident, spinning into the gravel at Turn 12 but managing to rejoin the session.

Verstappen and Hamilton both had spins but continued without any damage. However, Verstappen went off at the first corner after the session concluded, locking up his brakes following a practice start from the grid.

The practice session took place in dry conditions, but forecasts predict rain during the race weekend.

Key Moments and Driver Performance

“Leclerc complained over the radio at one point that the team were ‘nowhere’.”