F1: Max Verstappen completes practice sweep in Spanish Grand Prix
Formula One F1 – Spanish Grand Prix – Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain – June 3, 2023 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen during practice REUTERS/Nacho Doce
Max Verstappen lapped fastest in a rain-hit final practice for the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix on Saturday, after dominating both Friday sessions, with Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez second on the timesheets.
The championship leader’s best lap of one minute 13.664 seconds on the soft tires was 0.250 quicker than the Mexican’s best effort at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.
Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton was third fastest for Mercedes, 0.408 off the pace, with Spaniards Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso fourth and fifth for Ferrari and Aston Martin.
Mercedes’ George Russell was sixth and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who reported a strange sound from the clutch while doing a practice start, seventh.
Hamilton had said on Friday, when he was 12th and 11th in the two sessions, that he hoped overnight changes would help him get into the top 10 with a car that Mercedes have re-designed after a disappointing start to the season.
The session was red-flagged after nine minutes when Williams’ rookie Logan Sargeant crashed at the final corner before it started to rain.
McLaren’s Lando Norris ventured out with 28 minutes to go to test the conditions after a long period with no action.
The conditions then improved, allowing drivers to run on slicks again for the final few minutes although without testing the limits.
Hamilton completed only nine laps, spending much of the session out of the car but jumping back in again at the end as the weather improved.
“I don’t feel comfortable pushing in these conditions. I think it’s a waste,” Verstappen had told his team over the radio.
