Verstappen fears overtaking will be 'tough' at Spanish GP

MADRID: Max Verstappen is confident overtaking will prove challenging during Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix on the new and demanding hybrid circuit. The Dutch driver, who qualified third for Red Bull, expressed admiration for the work put into creating the Spanish capital's Formula One venue after his third-place qualifying. World champion Lando Norris topped the podium for McLaren, ahead of title leader Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes, who currently leads the championship by 66 points.

Verstappen acknowledged that the Spanish track could benefit from some alterations to enhance overtaking opportunities. However, he firmly believes a victory for himself would be an uphill struggle. He stated that even in the best-case scenario where he is faster than his rivals, overtaking would still prove impossible due to the lack of passing zones on the track.

The long runs during practice sessions were particularly demanding, with significant tyre wear affecting all drivers. Verstappen emphasized that determining the optimal number of stops during the race would be crucial, as the outcome will likely depend on which drivers experience severe tyre degradation.