Barcelona GP qualifying sees Verstappen surprised by Red Bull’s reduced gap to Mercedes

By Ama Serwah — 13 June 2026 — 3 min read

Verstappen’s qualifying performance and tyre concerns

Max Verstappen expressed surprise following his qualifying performance at the Barcelona GP, where Red Bull significantly reduced the gap to the front-runners. Despite earlier struggles with the car’s handling during practice sessions, Verstappen managed to set a time that was within three-tenths of pole-sitter George Russell. This outcome exceeded initial expectations, as the team had been grappling with balance and grip issues on the demanding circuit.

Verstappen’s best lap, a 1:14.998, was 0.319 seconds slower than Russell’s pole time. He noted that he might have been able to achieve a better position, potentially P3, if not for some sliding in the final sector of his last lap. He lost time in Turns 10 and 12, which affected his rhythm in the subsequent corners. However, Verstappen suggested that a slightly better qualifying position might not have a significant impact on the race outcome, anticipating that tyre degradation, pit stops, and strategic decisions would be the defining factors.

High ambient temperatures, with track temperatures soaring towards 50 degrees Celsius on Saturday, compounded the challenges for teams and drivers in managing their tyres. These conditions have led to predictions of a three-stop race or a two-stop strategy with careful pace management to preserve tyre life. Verstappen also faces an additional challenge, as he will head into the race without a new set of hard compound tyres, having utilized his allocation during practice. He remarked, “All the tyres are bad,” and predicted a struggle for everyone, with the outcome depending on who struggles the most.

Red Bull’s car limitations and new front wing assessment

Red Bull Chief Engineer Paul Monaghan echoed Verstappen’s sentiments regarding the team’s performance during Friday’s practice sessions in Barcelona. Monaghan acknowledged that the RB22 lacked both balance and overall grip throughout the opening day of the Spanish Grand Prix weekend. He indicated that these issues were not entirely unexpected given the nature of the circuit and the prevailing hot conditions, which are known to be demanding on vehicles.

Monaghan highlighted that the team’s difficulties were consistent with familiar issues encountered throughout the season. He emphasized that while Red Bull faced these challenges, their competitors likely experienced similar problems on such a tough circuit. The key, he noted, would be to manage lap times effectively despite these issues and to learn from how other teams handle tyre degradation. This learning process is considered crucial for their performance on Sunday.

Regarding a revised front wing introduced in Barcelona, Monaghan offered a cautiously optimistic assessment. He stated that the update had shown encouraging signs during Friday’s running. However, he did not confirm whether Red Bull would continue to use this specification for the remainder of the weekend, stressing the need for a full evaluation of its overall impact on performance. He mentioned that the team had made a step forward, but some aspects might be beneficial while others might not, and a comprehensive assessment was still underway.

Verstappen himself was not entirely encouraged by Red Bull‘s performance during Friday practice. He felt that the team was still lacking the necessary pace to contend at the front. Despite completing a full program across both sessions, he observed that the RB22 struggled across all sections of the lap and did not deliver the expected level of performance. He noted that the team’s difficulties extended beyond qualifying pace, with similar concerns arising during longer runs.

Verstappen believes that Barcelona’s varied layout has provided a clearer understanding of Red Bull‘s current shortcomings, especially compared to recent circuits that placed a greater emphasis on low-speed corners. He stated that the car lacked grip across high-speed, low-speed, and medium-speed sections, indicating that the team has significant work ahead for the rest of the weekend. The reigning world champion concluded that the car has clear limitations and struggles significantly with tyres on the circuit, which does not seem to suit their current setup.

The team’s focus will now be on addressing these issues to improve performance for the main race, where tyre management and strategy are expected to play a critical role in the final outcome.

Source: planetf1.com