Motor racing-Hamilton fastest on first day of Spanish GP practice

FILE PHOTO: Spanish Grand Prix - Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain - May 7, 2021 Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas in action during practice REUTERS/Albert Gea

(Reuters) -Seven times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton led Valtteri Bottas in a Mercedes one-two in practice for the Spanish Grand Prix on Friday.

Championship leader Hamilton's closest rival Max Verstappen had been second fastest in the morning for Red Bull but dropped to ninth, 0.615 off the pace, in the afternoon at the Circuit de Catalunya.