Norris missed most of the first session because of a hydraulic leak, but Piastri ended it third behind the Mercedes, just 0.117secs off Antonelli’s fastest time.

But Piastri cautioned that Antonelli probably had more potential than was obvious from the headline times, as his fastest lap in the second session was set on his second attempt on his set of soft tyres, when they would have been past their best.

Piastri said: “We are a step behind Mercedes, or at least Kimi, which we expected. For Kimi to do that kind of time on his second lap on the soft is quite impressive.”

And McLaren technical director applied engineering Neil Houldey said: “The Mercedes, and especially Kimi are going to be very difficult to beat.”

McLaren did not run a new rear wing – which follows the trend established by Ferrari and Red Bull in opening by rotating rather than flipping up, increasing the drag reduction on straights – because tests in the garage before practice revealed it needed more work.

Ferrari have an engine upgrade for this weekend that they hope will reduce their power deficit to Mercedes to follow on from the aerodynamic developments introduced in Barcelona two weeks ago, when Hamilton took his first win for the team.

But they had a low-key day, not yet showing the pace that led to Hamilton’s landmark victory.

Hamilton was 0.597secs off the pace, and team-mate Charles Leclerc a further 0.244secs adrift in eight place, behind the second Red Bull of Isack Hadjar.

Mercedes suspected Ferrari were running their new engine conservatively and would be in the fight at the front come qualifying.

But Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur downplayed the effect of the upgrade, given it is being introduced only two weeks or so after governing body the FIA confirmed the team would be permitted to change the engine under the additional development and upgrade opportunities (Aduo) programme.

“It was a tough Friday that we struggled a little but with the conditions, a bit extreme, the altitude, the temperature,” Vasseur said.

“It is the same for everyone but it is not suiting very well to us.

“We have the night to correct to put everything together and let’s try to do a better job on Saturday. So far we are far away from our potential.

“We knew about Aduo two weeks ago, you cannot expect to have a huge step forward. It is a new engine for sure but it is not a decent step.”