Max Verstappen finished third in the third free practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix on Saturday. Both McLaren drivers were out of reach for the Dutchman, just like the day before. Lando Norris was the fastest.
The 27-year-old Verstappen was two tenths slower than Norris with 1:04.534. The number two in the World Championship standings was in turn a tenth faster than Oscar Piastri. Charles Leclerc (+0.250) finished fourth and Lewis Hamilton (+0.466) clocked the fifth time.
Apart from two spectacular spins by Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar, the training went without incidents. The outcome of the session was a repeat of the second training a day earlier. The top three was the same then as well.
Verstappen has to do without his regular race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase this weekend. His loyal right-hand man is absent due to private circumstances. Lambiase will be replaced this weekend by Simon Rennie, who was Daniel Ricciardo’s engineer for many years.
Verstappen hopes to close the gap to Piastri and Norris this weekend at the Red Bull Ring, which is remarkably not sold out. Red Bull has implemented a significant number of updates to Verstappen’s car. The four-time world champion is driving with, among other things, a modified floor.
The qualification is scheduled for 4:00 PM later on Saturday. The race starts on Sunday at 3:00 PM.