Max P2 in first free practice session in Barcelona
Published on 30 May 2025 by Misha van der Kroon
Max Verstappen finished the first free practice session ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix in second place. On the 4.657-kilometer Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Lando Norris set the fastest time in his McLaren, while Lewis Hamilton in his Ferrari took P3. Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri completed the top five. Max’s teammate at Oracle Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, recorded the ninth-fastest time.
Before the session, it became clear that two rookies would be participating. At Haas, Ryo Hirakawa steps into Esteban Ocon’s car, and at Williams, Victor Martins takes over Alex Albon’s car. At the start of the third free practice, it’s sunny with the thermometer showing 30 degrees Celsius. The track temperature has risen to 47 degrees. Martins is the first driver out on track in his Williams, driving a car equipped with an aero rack and fitted with a set of hard tyres.
It gets busy quickly, and after about four minutes, Max appears on track. His first flying lap on hard tyres puts him in P8 as Hirakawa makes a small excursion through the gravel at Turn 10. The Japanese driver doesn’t get stuck and manages to continue. Shortly after, Max climbs to P3 behind Fernando Alonso and Norris. Max reports over the radio that he is not satisfied with the balance of the car so far.
Except for Franco Colapinto and Lance Stroll, the entire field is running on hard tyres. Halfway through the session, the top five looks as follows: George Russell, Nico Hulkenberg, Lando Norris, Kimi Antonelli, and Fernando Alonso.
Soft tyres are fitted under several cars, indicating that it’s time for qualifying simulations. Max goes P1 after his first quick run on these tyres. Hamilton falls short by just eleven thousandths, but Norris is faster than the reigning World Champion with more than three tenths of a second. Max immediately returns to the pits after his fast lap.
In the closing phase, many drivers begin long runs in preparation for Sunday’s race. Max only returns to the track with five minutes remaining. No faster times appear on the timing screen after that, and the first free practice session in Spain comes to an end.
Contest GP Spain: win a by Max Verstappen signed Red Bull Racing 2025 cap!
Results first free practice Spain:
| pos | driver | team | time | laps | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | NOR | McLaren Mercedes | 1:13.718 | |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | VER | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:14.085 | +0.367s |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | HAM | Ferrari | 1:14.096 | +0.378s |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | LEC | Ferrari | 1:14.238 | +0.520s |
| 5 | Oscar Piastri | PIA | McLaren Mercedes | 1:14.294 | +0.576s |
| 6 | Liam Lawson | LAW | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:14.339 | +0.621s |
| 7 | Oliver Bearman | BEA | Haas Ferrari | 1:14.597 | +0.879s |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | HAD | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:14.605 | +0.887s |
| 9 | Yuki Tsunoda | TSU | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:14.643 | +0.925s |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | GAS | Alpine Renault | 1:14.746 | +1.028s |
| 11 | George Russell | RUS | Mercedes | 1:14.751 | +1.033s |
| 12 | Lance Stroll | STR | Aston Martin Mercedes | 1:14.786 | +1.068s |
| 13 | Fernando Alonso | ALO | Aston Martin Mercedes | 1:14.798 | +1.080s |
| 14 | Nico Hulkenberg | HUL | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:14.865 | +1.147s |
| 15 | Carlos Sainz | SAI | Williams Mercedes | 1:14.935 | +1.217s |
| 16 | Gabriel Bortoleto | BOR | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:15.155 | +1.437s |
| 17 | Ryo Hirakawa | HIR | Haas Ferrari | 1:15.298 | +1.580s |
| 18 | Kimi Antonelli | ANT | Mercedes | 1:15.369 | +1.651s |
| 19 | Victor Martins | MAR | Williams Mercedes | 1:15.522 | +1.804s |
| 20 | Franco Colapinto | COL | Alpine Renault | 1:15.530 | +1.812s |
