Russell, who has been a victim of porpoising over the three days, has acknowledged that the performance from the W13 simply has not been there.
Active suspension was banned by the FIA from Formula 1 in 1994 in order to keep spending costs of the teams in check.
George Russell, who will be part of the Mercedes F1 team alongside Lewis Hamilton this season, raised eyerbrows with his statements made earlier this month.
On the first day in Barcelona, Norris topped the speed charts while Mercedes seemed to have a little trouble getting to their best.
It comes after four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel declared he would not race in Russia in the wake of the invasion on Ukraine.
Russell's morning time was still good enough for second place at the finish, while Perez and Verstappen finished third and fourth.
Russell finished sixth fastest after completing 66 laps in the afternoon session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Thursday.
Russell stated emphatically during the launch of Mercedes' 2022 contender last week that Hamilton and himself must first and foremost work together.
Mercedes' 2022 car W13 hits track for first time at Silverstone
Mercedes has won the constructors' championship for eight consecutive seasons, but Max Verstappen snatched the drivers' title in 2021.