Ferrari’s hopes of landing a first Formula 1 constructors’ title since 2008 have taken a major blow as FP1-topper Charles Leclerc will have to take a 10-place grid penalty.
Leclerc topped the first practice session on a 1m24.321s, just over two tenths quicker than Norris on a pivotal weekend for both teams with McLaren looking to convert a 21-point lead over Ferrari into a first title since 1998.
But Ferrari’s hopes of overhauling McLaren were dented right after FP1 as Ferrari had to take a third energy store (battery for the ERS) of the season for Leclerc - exceeding the limit of two and incurring a 10-place grid penalty.
It marred a special session for the Leclerc family with Leclerc's younger brother Arthur Leclerc making his F1 practice debut - the first time two brothers have driven for the same team in an F1 session.
Arthur ended up 18th fastest, a couple of seconds slower than Charles.
Lewis Hamilton was third quickest at the start of his final weekend with Mercedes ahead of team-mate George Russell - embroiled in a war of words with Max Verstappen before this weekend's on-track action even began - and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.
Nico Hulkenberg was sixth ahead of Franco Colapinto - both Williams drivers have five-place grid penalties this weekend - Kevin Magnussen and Felipe Drugovich who was the fastest of the FP1-only rookies taking part in the session.
Drugovich shaded team-mate Fernando Alonso by 0.031s with Alonso furious with Aston over the team radio.
“Worst car ever and the worst traffic preparation ever. Next time I do my outlap myself,” Alonso fumed.
Two-time World Endurance Champion with Toyota Ryo Hirakawa made his FP1 debut with McLaren in place of Oscar Piastri, posting a late flying lap to go 14th, 1.3s adrift of Norris’s benchmark.
He’ll swap to driving for another Toyota partner, Haas, next week during the post-season test.
Isack Hadjar - in for Verstappen - had his second FP1 appearance of the year in the Red Bull, having made a rather cautious debut at Silverstone.
This is a big chance for Hadjar on the same weekend he’s fighting 2025 Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto for the Formula 2 title, as there’s a 2025 RB seat that could be his now that Red Bull’s interest in Franco Colapinto has cooled and current RB driver Liam Lawson is the favourite to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull.
Hadjar's session didn’t get off to the best start with a spin at Turn 7 and complaints that the steering wheel clearance - the gap between the steering wheel and the driver’s legs - wasn’t right.
Hadjar persevered via some adjustments in the Red Bull garage and ultimately ended up with the 15th fastest time, four tenths adrift of Perez.
As for the other FP1-only rookies, Honda junior Ayumu Iwasa was 17th fastest for RB while Luke Browning was 20th for Williams.
Both Williams cars will take five-place grid penalties on Sunday for taking extra gearboxes.
