Max Verstappen delivered a composed and competitive showing in FP2 at Barcelona, securing third place on the timesheets ahead of the F1 Spanish GP. The Red Bull driver finished just 0.310 seconds adrift of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who topped the session with an impressive 1:12.760.
While Verstappen matched Lando Norris’s time, he was classified ahead in third based on having set his lap earlier. George Russell’s 1:12.875 split the McLaren duo, placing Mercedes second in the tight 2025 season battle.
A session of fine margins
Verstappen looked confident on both medium and soft compounds on Friday at the F1 Spanish GP. His soft-tyre qualifying lap was clean, but slower third sector showed potential for improvement versus the McLarens. Nevertheless, the RB20 impressed with its consistency during high-fuel race simulations, indicating strong potential for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
No issues for Red Bull
Earlier in the day during FP1, Max Verstappen demonstrated strong pace by finishing second fastest, just 0.024 seconds behind Lando Norris. The Red Bull driver completed 27 laps in the session, focusing on running different setups to fine-tune the RB20 ahead of the weekend. Contrary to some earlier reports, Verstappen had no suspension issues in FP1, running smoothly to collect valuable data.
“It’s always nice to be here – the track is always very enjoyable to drive. It’s quite hot out there as well, especially for the tyres. But I think it was an okay Friday – we’ve had worse Fridays!
“I felt a bit happier with the car, we’re still not where we want to be but it was definitely a bit more positive.”
Looking ahead to qualifying
As the field prepares for Saturday’s qualifying session, Red Bull Racing will aim to fine-tune the RB20’s setup to extract more grip and balance – particularly in the tight corners of the final sector, where small mistakes can cost crucial tenths.
Verstappen’s strong Barcelona history, including this FP2 and his 2016 win, keeps expectations high for the weekend. The Dutchman has consistently performed at this circuit, and Red Bull will be hoping to capitalise on any opportunity to outmanoeuvre their closest rivals.
If Friday’s FP2 timesheets are any indication, Barcelona is shaping up to be fiercely competitive weekend for Verstappen.
