F1 LIVE | Follow all the action of the second free practice session in Barcelona

The Spanish Grand Prix is the best gauge for the rest of the Formula 1 season, and the best measure of this so far will take place in the second free practice session. Don't miss out on all the action on track in Barcelona with GPblog's liveblog.

Liveblog - FP2

The Spanish Grand Prix has been held in Barcelona since 1991 and almost every year the eventual world champion manages to get pole position here or even run away with the victory. It's a good track to watch over a weekend because the strongest team here could be the strongest over a whole season.

Verstappen versus Hamilton

In 2021, things are very close for now. Red Bull Racing and Mercedes have both built a car that can achieve pole or Grand Prix victory. The RB16B is just a bit faster over a lap and is also faster in the corners. The W12 is strong at managing the tyres, and Mercedes are seemingly getting more out of the car week-on-week. 

As a result, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are already in a title fight this season. Spain is round four, but it's an essential test for the rest of the season. The teams will really know where they stand, and so will the fans. Will it be Verstappen or Hamilton again? Much will become clear during this second free practice.

Midfield

Elsewhere, McLaren and Ferrari are looking like the two strongest candidates for the best of the rest position in the World Championship. Alpine looked strong in Portugal and it will be interesting to see if that result was circuit dependant, or they've made real progress.