Max Verstappen Unstoppable in Spanish GP Practice Sessions, Outstripping Rivals on Lap Times

Verstappen continues to dominate in sport news

Max Verstappen continued his impressive form by setting the fastest time in both FP1 and FP2. The Red Bull driver set a blistering 1m13.907s in the latter session, putting him almost a second clear of Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin. However, despite Verstappen’s dominance, there were some surprises further down the order. Esteban Ocon was best of the rest for Alpine, while Nico Hulkenberg impressed by taking P3 for Haas.

Pierre Gasly (Alpine) collided with Logan Sargeant’s Williams at Turn 10 hairpin but managed to finish fifth-fastest overall. Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were eighth and ninth respectively, with George Russell rounding out the top ten for Mercedes. Verstappen set his early benchmark on Pirelli prototype tyres before switching to medium-compound rubber to go fastest on 1m14.968s. He then unleashed an even quicker lap on soft tyres: a stunning 1m13.907s that left his rivals trailing in his wake. Alonso was perhaps the surprise performer of FP2 as he got within 0.17s of Verstappen’s time despite driving an Aston Martin that has struggled for pace this season.

There is no doubt that Verstappen remains the man to beat going into qualifying tomorrow, but there are enough mysteries and discontinuities elsewhere on the grid to suggest that anything could happen come race day.