Max Verstappen will line up in third place on the grid for the opening Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, according to a post from Formula1.com. The Dutch driver, who has dominated the season with four wins and five pole positions, admitted that a P3 start is not ideal but remains confident in his team’s ability to fight for the win.
In the interview, Verstappen highlighted the importance of maintaining focus and not letting the starting position dictate the race outcome. He said, "We’re looking at the race as a whole. The car is set up for the track and we’ve got a good strategy. If we can keep the pressure on the leaders, we can still come out on top." The comments came after a competitive qualifying session where Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez secured pole, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc trailing behind.
Red Bull Racing’s strategy team has been praised for its adaptability, and Verstappen’s confidence is rooted in the team’s recent performance at the Spanish circuit. The team’s engineers noted that the car’s aerodynamic package is well-suited to the high-speed corners of Barcelona, which should give the Dutchman an advantage in the race’s latter stages. The driver also emphasized the significance of tyre management, stating that "the tyres will play a huge role in the race, and we’ve got the right compounds to stay competitive for the majority of the race."
For Indian fans, the Spanish Grand Prix will be broadcast live on FanCode at 4:30 PM IST, following the 7:30 PM local start time. The event will also be available on the official Formula 1 app with live commentary and real‑time data. Fans can follow the action on FanCode’s dedicated commentary channel, which offers in‑depth analysis and interviews with drivers and team principals.
Source: Formula1.com
