Verstappen sees an opportunity in Madrid to get Red Bull to the front quickly

Max Verstappen heads to the Madrid Grand Prix with uncertainty over Red Bull’s RB22, but he also sees opportunities in an unfamiliar circuit. While he secured third place in Monza—keeping McLarens and Ferraris behind—Verstappen noted that Madrid’s new layout is essentially untested for most teams, aside from Ferrari, and he has driven only in simulation. He expects Friday’s first practice to be data-heavy, focusing on grip levels before building toward qualifying. Teammate Liam Lawson echoed that the simulator can’t fully predict performance; the banked corner and unique track character could matter. Lawson also said engine-change issues in Monza put them behind, though they found pace later and will try to return stronger.