Max Verstappen hears phone ring during practice

Did Max Verstappen engage in a humorous conversation with his race engineer about whether the ringing phone belonged to Helmut?

During the FP2 session at the 2023 F1 Spanish GP on Friday, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen playfully exposed team advisor Helmut Marko when his phone rang.

Max Verstappen, in the first two practice sessions, demonstrated his dominance by surpassing the rest of the grid with a significant lead. He showcased impressive long-run pace, outperforming other drivers in the latter part of the FP2 session with remarkable consistency.

However, the reigning world champion remained composed inside his cockpit as his race engineer conveyed their run plan through the radio. He casually commented on hearing the ringing phone in the background.

His race engineer, GP Lambiase, confirmed Max Verstappen’s observation.

Max Verstappen expressed his satisfaction with an exceptionally positive Friday, acknowledging his discovery of the optimal window to maximize the car’s performance on the track.

“We had a good day today. The car was in a good window, and although we will make some adjustments, both short runs and long runs looked promising. The last two corners are more enjoyable to drive, and F1 cars feel much better at high speed. I even managed to follow a few cars through that section, and it seemed okay. I’m pleasantly surprised by the overtaking opportunities.”

“I felt very comfortable in the car, taking care of the tires. I still need to compare our lap times with others, but overall, it was a good day for us.”

“We always try out various things in Barcelona, as it’s the most representative track that brings the whole season together. The new variation on the last two corners puts strain on the neck, but since today was a short day, we might feel it more on Sunday. It could be challenging for the muscles! Today was positive, and we have plenty of information to review overnight.”

“Overall, there were many positives to take from today, but we need to step up our game for Qualifying and also understand the tire behavior for the long run.”

It will be intriguing to see who will outperform this weekend between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.