### **Max Verstappen Faces First Setback of the Season in Australia**
Max Verstappen experienced his first disappointment of the 2025 Formula 1 season during **Friday’s free practice sessions** at the Australian Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver, who has dominated the sport in recent years, found himself struggling with **grip and tire performance**, resulting in a **seventh-place finish** in the practice standings.
While Verstappen’s **RB21** was expected to be competitive, the session revealed a surprising lack of pace compared to **McLaren and Ferrari**. **Charles Leclerc** topped the timesheets for Ferrari, with **Lando Norris** securing the second-best time for McLaren. **Lewis Hamilton**, in his much-anticipated first race weekend with Ferrari, finished in fifth place, further highlighting the Scuderia’s strong form.
### **Verstappen’s Struggles with Balance and Grip**
Speaking after the session, Verstappen admitted that despite **a decent balance** in the car, the team struggled to find the **necessary grip** on the Melbourne circuit.
> *”We weren’t doing too badly with the balance, but for some reason, we just couldn’t find the grip on track. I struggled a lot with the tires, and right now, we’re not in the fight at the front.”*
This unexpected challenge has raised concerns for Red Bull heading into **Saturday’s qualifying session**. Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, acknowledged the difficulties and set a **realistic goal** for qualifying:
> *“The objective for qualifying is the second row.”*
### **Ferrari and McLaren Take the Lead**
The practice results suggest that Red Bull may not have the same dominance in Melbourne that they displayed in previous races. Ferrari’s **Charles Leclerc** set the pace, demonstrating that the Italian team could be serious contenders for pole position. Meanwhile, **Lando Norris** continued McLaren’s strong form, securing the second-fastest time of the day.
**Lewis Hamilton**, in his debut race weekend with Ferrari, showed promising speed by finishing in **fifth place**. His performance suggests that he is quickly adapting to his new car and could be a factor in the fight for the podium.
### **What’s Next for Verstappen?**
With Red Bull facing unexpected struggles, Verstappen and his team will need to make significant adjustments overnight to improve their chances in qualifying. If they fail to find a solution, the reigning champion could face an uphill battle in Sunday’s race, where Ferrari and McLaren look poised to challenge for victory.
All eyes will be on **Saturday’s qualifying session** to see if Verstappen can bounce back or if this will mark a real shift in the competitive order for the 2025 season.