Max Verstappen dominated all three free practice sessions, taking pole on Saturday with a disconcerting lead. Lewis Hamilton, 2nd, and George Russell, 3rd, while starting 12th, were the only ones in Spain to follow the Dutchman's times.
Charles Leclerc was in trouble on his first stint with the hard tyres, unable to warm them up and settled for a modest 11th place. Pierre Gasly had done the job on track by signing the fourth time of qualifying but then received a double penalty.