Verstappen sets the pace for Spanish GP

Red Bull's Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen set the pace in practice for the Spanish Grand Prix on Friday, with home hero Fernando Alonso delighting the crowd with the second fastest lap.

The Dutch driver was top in both sessions, 0.768 seconds quicker than Mexican teammate and closest rival Sergio Perez in the first and then 0.170 faster than Aston Martin’s Alonso in the late afternoon.

Verstappen’s fastest lap around Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya was 1:13.907, with Alonso clocking 1:14.077.