formula 1
Before the rain: Verstappen in the third training session with the best time
Max Verstappen from the Netherlands set the best time in the last training session in Barcelona. photo
© Hasan Bratic/dpa
Rain disrupts preparations for qualifying in Barcelona. In Formula 1, the hunt for times could be more exciting than expected. World champion Verstappen is still the favorite.
Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen set the best time in the last training session before the Spanish Grand Prix, which was not very meaningful.
The 25-year-old Dutchman set his fastest lap in 1m13.664s, finishing ahead of his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, 0.250s back. Third place went to record world champion Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes. The onset of rain meant that fast laps could only be driven at the beginning.
Hulkenberg in 14th place
After his surprisingly strong third place in the second practice session on Friday, Nico Hülkenberg had to settle for 14th place in the Haas racing car. The 35-year-old from the Rhineland is the only German driver in the top motorsport class this year.
At the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, preparations for qualifying on Saturday afternoon (4:00 p.m.) were seriously disrupted. Instead of completing the usual program on a dry track, many drivers stayed in the garage for a long time. It was only possible to drive normally on dry tires in the first few minutes. Only towards the end of practice did the cars come back onto the track and collect data for the time hunt that followed. It could rain again in the qualification.
An accident involving the American Logan Sargeant also shortened the journey time. The 22-year-old Formula 1 newcomer came off the track after a driving error and hit the barriers. His car, which was severely damaged at the rear, had to be recovered early with a crane, Sargeant was apparently unharmed.
Verstappen favorite for title
Before the seventh round of the season on Sunday (3 p.m. / Sky) in Catalonia, Verstappen is 39 points ahead of his teammate Perez in the world championship standings. The two-time world champion had already triumphed in Barcelona last year.