Lap 25/66 – Verstappen leads, Norris second
All change as Verstappen uses his warmer tyres to get ahead of Piastri.
It could just be a temporary win for Red Bull as that early pit stop by Verstappen means he will have to come in again soon.
You would expect that he is going to have to opt for a three pit strategy today.
As things stand, everything is looking good for McLaren.
Lap 23/66 – Piastri leads, Verstappen second
Norris pits and comes back out in front of the Ferraris.
Piastri then heads in, looking to get out in the same place.
A good pit stop sees the Australian come back out ahead of Verstappen, good tactics from McLaren.
Lap 21/66 – Piastri leads, Norris second
Verstappen puts in the quickest lap of the day as he overtakes Russell to move into third spot.
Alonso has made a move on Sainz to move into seventeenth spot.
How the mighty have fallen, last season that move would have seen him move into a podium spot no doubt.
Lap 19/66 – Piastri leads, Norris second
With the heat in Spain, we have never seen a race where tyre management may decide a driver’s fate.
Russell has now moved into third, with Verstappen in fourth.
The Ferraris have pitted and gone onto the medium tyres.
Lap 17/66 – Piastri leads, Norris second
Verstappen heads into the pits for a much-needed tyre change.
Leclerc now switches places with Hamilton.
He is in third place now with Verstappen coming back out onto the track in eighth place.
Lap 15/66 – Piastri leads, Norris second
Norris takes over Verstappen on the straight and the Red Bull does not even try to defend the move.
He realises it is futile with his tyres having degraded rapidly with his start to this race.
It offers Norris the chance to try and close the gap on his teammate, which is crucial if he is to have any hope of winning this race.
