The Red Bull driver was therefore slightly faster than Charles Leclerc, who set the second fastest time for Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz. Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Pérez set the fourth fastest time.
Lewis Hamilton (seventh) and Valtteri Bottas (ninth) did not set fast times. Between them, McLaren driver Lando Norris set the eighth fastest time. The young Briton was on his way during a lap, but had to break it off after a big spin. Hamilton, Bottas and Sainz, among others, also shot straight again.
Verstappen had to abort an intended first fast lap on the softest tire after being hindered by Nikita Mazepin, but was able to set a fast time shortly afterwards. Mazepin came into contact with the wall in the final phase of the training.
Can World Cup leader Max Verstappen maintain this upward trend? Former driver Christijan Albers and reporter Erik van Haren discuss this in a new episode of the Formula 1 podcast of the Telegraaf:
