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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:

posdriverteamtimegaplaps
1Lando NorrisNORMcLaren Mercedes1:13.71828
2Max VerstappenVERRed Bull Racing Honda RBPT1:14.085+0.367s17
3Lewis HamiltonHAMFerrari1:14.096+0.378s28
4Charles LeclercLECFerrari1:14.238+0.520s30
5Oscar PiastriPIAMcLaren Mercedes1:14.294+0.576s27
6Liam LawsonLAWRacing Bulls Honda RBPT1:14.339+0.621s27
7Oliver BearmanBEAHaas Ferrari1:14.597+0.879s25
8Isack HadjarHADRacing Bulls Honda RBPT1:14.605+0.887s25
9Yuki TsunodaTSURed Bull Racing Honda RBPT1:14.643+0.925s26
10Pierre GaslyGASAlpine Renault1:14.746+1.028s27
11George RussellRUSMercedes1:14.751+1.033s31
12Lance StrollSTRAston Martin Mercedes1:14.786+1.068s23
13Fernando AlonsoALOAston Martin Mercedes1:14.798+1.080s20
14Nico HulkenbergHULKick Sauber Ferrari1:14.865+1.147s20
15Carlos SainzSAIWilliams Mercedes1:14.935+1.217s25
16Gabriel BortoletoBORKick Sauber Ferrari1:15.155+1.437s22
17Ryo HirakawaHIRHaas Ferrari1:15.298+1.580s22
18Kimi AntonelliANTMercedes1:15.369+1.651s30
19Victor MartinsMARWilliams Mercedes1:15.522+1.804s26
20Franco ColapintoCOLAlpine Renault1:15.530+1.812s19