The Dutchman (Red Bull) got the better of Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) at Montmelo on Friday in the second free practice session.
Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) set the fastest time in the second free practice session of the Spanish Grand Prix, seventh round of the Formula 1 World Championship, on Friday at the Circuit de Catalunya (4.657 km) in Montmeló .
The reigning double world champion, who had fitted soft tyres, like all his opponents, beat the local hero, the Spaniard Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), by 170 thousandths, while the German Nico Hülkenberg won a unexpected third place at the wheel of his Haas.
Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) set the fourth fastest time, 312 thousandths behind his teammate, just ahead of Frenchman Esteban Ocon (Alpine).
Ferrari, which has added several new features to its car for this Spanish Grand Prix, is in sixth and seventh place with Monegasque Charles Leclerc and Spaniard Carlos Sainz.
Mercedes, which notably introduced new pontoons at Monaco last weekend, continued to test these developments at the more traditional Montmeló circuit and set eighth and eleventh fastest times with Britons George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
Ninth and tenth places were taken by Finn Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) and Frenchman Pierre Gasly (Alpine), who are just over half a second behind Verstappen.
The disappointment of the session came from the Canadian Lance Stroll, who was never in the game and finished in a mediocre 18th place with the second Aston Martin.
Earlier in the day, “Mad Max” had already dominated the first free practice session. He had largely outclassed his competitors, relegating his first opponents, Pérez and Ocon (Alpine), to 768 and 814 thousandths respectively.
On Saturday, the drivers will take part in a third and final free practice session, scheduled for 12:30 p.m., before qualifying at 4:00 p.m.
2nd free practice session:
Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1:13.907 (33 tours)
Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:14.077 (30)
Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Haas-Ferrari) 1:14.177 (31)
Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull) 1:14.219 (29)
Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1:14.242 (30)
Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1:14.246 (32)
Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari) 1:14.274 (32)
George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) 1:14.392 (31)
Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo Ferrari) 1:14.448 (32)
Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1:14.457 (29)
Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:14.549 (31)
Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:14.583 (30)
Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari) 1:14.585 (29)
Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:14.694 (30)
Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) 1:14.713 (24)
Nyck de Vries (NED/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1:14.785 (33)
Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1:14.840 (34)
Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:15.010 (31)
Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes) 1:15.056 (32)
Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams-Mercedes) 1:15.415 (33)
