Max Verstappen finished third in the second free practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix on Friday. McLaren driver Oscar Piastri was the fastest at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
The 24-year-old Piastri lapped the circuit in Montmeló in 1:12.760. That was three tenths faster than Verstappen, who remarkably drove exactly the same time as Lando Norris. George Russell finished second, more than two tenths behind the Australian.
The Grand Prix weekend in Spain is marked by new regulations regarding the front wings. They are allowed to move much less during driving than in previous races, which means that all teams have had to develop new front wings.
Red Bull hoped that McLaren would suffer under the tightened rules for the ‘flexiwings’, but there was not much sign of this in either the first or second practice sessions. Earlier in the day, Norris was by far the fastest. McLaren has been the team to beat all season and is comfortably leading the constructors’ championship.
Charles Leclerc finished fifth, ahead of Kimi Antonelli (sixth), Fernando Alonso (seventh), Pierre Gasly (eighth), Isack Hadjar (ninth), and Liam Lawson (tenth). The second free practice session passed without red flags or other incidents.
Verstappen starts the Spanish Grand Prix with a 25-point deficit to World Championship leader Piastri. The race weekend continues on Saturday at 12:30 PM with the third free practice session. Qualifying is at 4:00 PM on Saturday, and the race starts at 3:00 PM on Sunday.