Victor Martins went quickest around the reprofiled Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Free Practice as the FIA Formula 3 Championship arrived at the circuit for the first time since in-season testing in April.
Most of the optimal running came later in the day; Zak O’Sullivan‘s early 1:35.420 placed him in the lower reaches of the midfield by the time the flag fell.
Reece Ushijima was the first driver to go into the 1:34s, with David Vidales setting a 1:33.932 despite increasing temperatures as the 45-minute session progressed.
Oliver Rasmussen, Zane Maloney and Roman Stanek moved their Tridents to the top later on, occupying the top three at times as Stanek held top spot with a 1:33.304.
Joint-Championship leader Leclerc pipped Martins as the pair did battle on the timing sheets, going just 0.076s faster on what will be a quicker circuit than in previous visits, due to the re-designed, more open Turn 10-11 section.
ART Grand Prix‘s Martins ended Free Practice on top, with Leclerc four tenths ahead of Stanek who took third.
Jak Crawford, Stanek’s fellow Imola race-winner Franco Colapinto and Maloney finished fourth through sixth, with Oliver Bearman and Kaylen Frederick just behind.
Alexander Smolyar and Vidales rounded out the top ten.
FIA Formula 3 Barcelona Free Practice Results:
| Pos. | No. | Name | Nat. | Team | Time/Gap |
| 1 | 7 | Victor Martins | FRA | ART Grand Prix | 1:32.796 |
| 2 | 4 | Arthur Leclerc | MON | Prema Racing | +0.076s |
| 3 | 2 | Roman Stanek | CZE | Trident | +0.508s |
| 4 | 5 | Jak Crawford | USA | Prema Racing | +0.536s |
| 5 | 29 | Franco Colapinto | ARG | Van Amersfoort Racing | +0.543s |
| 6 | 3 | Zane Maloney | BAR | Trident | +0.569s |
| 7 | 6 | Oliver Bearman | GBR | Prema Racing | +0.762s |
| 8 | 17 | Kaylen Frederick | USA | Hitech GP | +0.841s |
| 9 | 11 | Alexander Smolyar | FIA | MP Motorsport | +0.861s |
| 10 | 20 | David Vidales | SPA | Campos Racing | +0.880s |
| 11 | 10 | Caio Collet | BRA | MP Motorsport | +0.891s |
| 12 | 1 | Oliver Rasmussen | DEN | Trident | +0.950s |
| 13 | 22 | Josep Maria Marti | SPA | Campos Racing | +1.028s |
| 14 | 8 | Gregoire Saucy | SUI | ART Grand Prix | +1.057s |
| 15 | 12 | Kush Maini | IND | MP Motorsport | +1.080s |
| 16 | 9 | Juan Manuel Correa | USA | ART Grand Prix | +1.102s |
| 17 | 23 | Ido Cohen | ISR | Jenzer Motorsport | +1.170s |
| 18 | 30 | Rafael Villagomez | MEX | Van Amersfoort Racing | +1.604s |
| 19 | 18 | Isack Hadjar | FRA | Hitech GP | +1.637s |
| 20 | 21 | Hunter Yeany | USA | Campos Racing | +1.665s |
| 21 | 15 | Lirim Zendeli | GER | Charouz Racing System | +1.717s |
| 22 | 31 | Reece Ushijima | JPN | Van Amersfoort Racing | +2.073s |
| 23 | 24 | Federico Malvestiti | ITA | Jenzer Motorsport | +2.102s |
| 24 | 28 | Enzo Trulli | ITA | Carlin | +2.425s |
| 25 | 26 | Zak O’Sullivan | GBR | Carlin | +2.624s |
| 26 | 25 | William Alatalo | FIN | Jenzer Motorsport | +2.687s |
| 27 | 16 | Francesco Pizzi | ITA | Charouz Racing System | +2.735s |
| 28 | 14 | Laszlo Toth | HUN | Charouz Racing System | +2.912s |
| 29 | 19 | Nazim Azman | MAL | Hitech GP | +3.165s |
| 30 | 27 | Brad Benavides | USA | Carlin | +3.169s |