Max Verstappen makes concerning Barcelona GP prediction

Max Verstappen has made a concerning prediction that "everyone will struggle" on all tyre compounds during the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.

Soaring temperatures have resulted in very hot conditions across the weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with tyre degradation already proving to be a major factor.

Across practice and qualifying, drivers suffered from tyres degrading quickly, resulting in a lack of grip.

The rate of degradation has been so high that it has not been ruled out that the Grand Prix could see drivers complete a two- or three-stop strategy.

Verstappen is the only driver among the big four teams to have already extensively run a set of hard tyres, meaning he has one fewer set for the race.

However, according to the four-time world champion, even the hardest compound available this weekend felt poor.

As a result, the Red Bull driver is expecting the race to be decided by who can manage tyre wear the best.

Addressing having one fewer set of hard tyres remaining than his rivals, Verstappen told select media, including RacingNews365: To be honest, all the tyres felt bad. 

"So I guess everyone will struggle. It just depends on who will struggle the most or not. So, we'll see."

Verstappen will start fifth for the seventh round of the season after qualifying three tenths adrift of polesitter George Russell, with his aim being to move forward.

Asked what is possible in the race, Verstappen replied: "I mean, we want to look ahead, right? But we'll see. It's not going to be easy."