The Brit's advantage didn't last long, however, with Verstappen easily getting past his Mercedes rival shortly after.
The Dutchman, seeking a third straight win in Barcelona, looked a class apart, extending extended his advantage as the race edged past the halfway point.
Charles Leclerc expressed his displeasure over team radioThe Ferraris struggled to make an impression at the top of the grid in the opening stages
Tension brewing?
Further back, Leclerc - clearly frustrated at his lack of progress - expressed his displeasure over to team radio, asking for clarification on why he was having to stick to a plan which he believed wasn't working.
The 26-year-old said: "Why are we on Plan A?"
"We are in line with everyone else, that was the choice," came the blunt response from his race engineer.