the also spanish Fernando Alonso (Alpine)two-time World Cup champion, was the third fastest ahead of the Mexican Sergio Perez (Red Bull) and of Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)which used a rebuilt engine after the team scrapped the unit that failed last week in Azerbaijan.
The Monegasque Leclerc, who has accumulated four consecutive pole positions without later achieving victory, was 0.5 seconds behind the pace set by his rival Verstappen.
These are the times of the first free practice session:
Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1:15.158 (27 laps)
Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari) 1:15.404 (34)
Fernando Alonso (ESP/Alpine-Renault) 1:15.531 (31)
Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull) 1:15.619 (32)
Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1:15.666 (30)
George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) 1:15.822 (29)
Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:15.877 (32)
Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:15.877 (27)
Sebastian Vettel (GER/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:16.041 (33)
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:16.083 (29)
Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1:16.165 (29)
Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:16.211 (17)
Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes) 1:16.308 (29)
Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1:16.322 (33)
Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1:16.421 (26)
Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo) 1:16.426 (27)
Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo) 1:17.152 (30)
Mick Schumacher (GER/Haas-Ferrari) 1:17.223 (25)
Nicholas Latifi (CAN/Williams-Mercedes) 1:17.241 (33)
Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) 1:17.555 (31)