He faces a battle to retain his pole position in the world championship race but Australia's Oscar Piastri has shown he is up for the fight after setting the pace in practice for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.
Piastri scorched around Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, leaving McLaren teammate and nearest challenger Lando Norris back in fourth place.
It was a statement of intent from Piastri, whose championship lead had been reduced to just three points after Norris held firm to win last weekend's Spanish Grand Prix.