Oscar Piastri sets the pace in Spanish Grand Prix practice
Five days after Norris won in Monaco to reignite his stuttering title charge, the British driver soared to first place in the opening running at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya.
However, championship leader Piastri, who Norris trails by three points, bounced back in the day's concluding session to finish fastest.
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri ended the day in first place (Bradley Collyer/PA)
George Russell took second for Mercedes, 0.286 seconds behind Piastri, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen third. Norris finished in fourth, three tenths behind his McLaren team-mate, while Lewis Hamilton was a distant 11th in his Ferrari.
McLaren have won six of the eight rounds so far, and their rivals might have hoped that a clampdown on flexible front wings – which some believe has contributed to the British team's rise – would slow them down.
However, the early evidence of the rule tweak introduced for this race appears to have done little to influence McLaren's speed.
Mercedes endured a woeful weekend in Monaco last weekend with both Russell and Kimi Antonelli out of the points. But Russell was the closest contender to Piastri in the second session with Antonelli four places back and three tenths behind his team-mate.
Verstappen is the only driver outside of McLaren to win a race this season following victories in Japan and Imola to put him 25 points off the title pace.
Friday completed 👍 Quali day tomorrow pic.twitter.com/3qAMb36eI8
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) May 30, 2025
The four-time world champion indicated here that he will not be able to challenge Norris and Piastri over the championship stretch, but he can at least take confidence from being in contention in Spain. He set an identical time to Norris – albeit both men were 0.310 sec slower than Piastri.
Hamilton heads into the ninth round of his Ferrari career 98 points behind Piastri in the standings. Hamilton won a sprint race at the second round in China but he has failed to finish on the podium since completing his blockbuster move from Mercedes to Ferrari.
'The car is not driveable, mate,' said Hamilton with his best lap failing to make it into the top 10. His team-mate Charles Leclerc finished six places and nearly three tenths better off in fifth.
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South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Oscar Piastri beats McLaren team-mate Lando Norris to Spanish Grand Prix pole
Piastri holds a three-point championship lead over Norris, and the Australian delivered in qualifying to beat the British driver by an impressive 0.209 seconds at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya – the biggest pole margin of the season so far. World champion Max Verstappen took third place for Red Bull, one spot clear of Mercedes' George Russell. Verstappen and Russell set identical times with the former taking the higher grid slot after setting his time first. POLE POSITION IN BARCELONA! 🏁 Oscar's secures his fourth Pole position of the season 👏 #McLaren | #M7AReborn | #SpanishGP 🇪🇸 — McLaren (@McLarenF1) May 31, 2025 Lewis Hamilton qualified fifth with Kimi Antonelli sixth for Mercedes and Charles Leclerc, who completed just one quick lap in Q3, seventh. McLaren have won six of the eight rounds so far, and their rivals might have hoped that a clampdown on flexible front wings – which some believe has contributed to the British team's rise – would slow them down. However, the rule tweak has done little to influence McLaren's speed, with Piastri and Norris embroiled in a tense battle for pole. Norris secured top spot in Monaco a week ago before going on to claim his first win since March's season-opening round in Melbourne. He ended the first runs here in Q3 holding a slender 0.017 sec margin over his team-mate. Norris enjoyed a tow off Piastri's McLaren with the Australian calling his team-mate's antics 'cheeky'. The McLaren duo returned for a final shot at pole and although Norris improved on his first lap, it was Piastri who lit up the timesheets by taking his fourth pole of the season by two tenths. 'I am very happy,' said Piastri. 'It didn't start off in the best way. I was struggling but I found pace and the car has been mega. 'I improved quite a lot in Turn 1 on my second lap and it all came together. It wasn't the perfect lap. It is going to be an interesting one tomorrow and I am pretty glad I am starting from pole.' Norris said: 'Oscar drove very well. The pace was there but I made a few mistakes.' Chequered flag on our Saturday on track 🇪🇸 — Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) May 31, 2025 Hamilton called his car 'undriveable' in practice on Friday, but he will take comfort from out-qualifying Leclerc for the first time since the second round in China, albeit half-a-second back from Piastri. Home favourite Carlos Sainz qualified a disappointing 18th while Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda will prop up the grid after he clocked the slowest time with just eight tenths separating first to last in Q1. British rookie Ollie Bearman progressed to Q2, and will line up from 15th, two places clear of Esteban Ocon in the other Haas.
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Lando Norris admits mistakes cost him pole for Spanish Grand Prix
McLaren were in a class of one in qualifying for the ninth round of a campaign which looks increasingly set to come down to a battle between team-mates Norris and Piastri for the biggest prize in motor racing. Norris ended a poor run over one lap to take pole in Monaco a week ago before going on to claim his second win of the campaign and reducing Piastri's championship lead to just three points. POLE POSITION IN BARCELONA! 🏁 Oscar's secures his fourth Pole position of the season 👏 #McLaren | #M7AReborn | #SpanishGP 🇪🇸 — McLaren (@McLarenF1) May 31, 2025 But Norris has never won consecutive races in Formula One, and his hopes of building on his Monte Carlo triumph were dealt a setback in Barcelona with Piastri taking an emphatic pole. Piastri's advantage of 0.209 seconds is the biggest of the season so far. Norris held a slender advantage of 0.017 sec after the first runs in Q3 and although he improved with his final attempt, Norris conceded his lap was scrappy, and it was Piastri in the other papaya car who soared to the top of the order. 'Oscar drove very well but the pace was easily there today,' said Norris. 'Sometimes you don't put the lap in. I know where I lost that time. I made a mistake at Turn 1 and on the exit of Turn 4. 'I was trying a little bit too much and I wasn't tidy enough. Just one too many mistakes. I am still fine and happy with second. It is not the end of the world.' Of course, Norris is right and he could yet land a win here on Sunday which would move him back to the summit of the title standings. However, it is Piastri, who is proving the more consistent performer this season, with four victories to Norris' two, and it is he who will hold the aces on the long run down to the first corner. Quickest in both the second and third practice sessions prior to qualifying, the Australian said: 'I always felt confident pole was on the cards so I am glad we pulled it off.' McLaren have won six of the eight rounds so far, and their rivals might have hoped that a clampdown on flexible front wings – which some believe has contributed to the British team's rise – would slow them down. However, the rule tweak has done little to influence McLaren's speed, with Max Verstappen and George Russell both 0.302 sec slower than Piastri. Chequered flag on our Saturday on track 🇪🇸 — Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) May 31, 2025 Red Bull's Verstappen and Mercedes' Russell posted identical times but it is the former who will start one place better off in third by virtue of setting his lap first. Lewis Hamilton called his car 'undriveable' in practice on Friday. But he finished fifth here and out-qualified Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc for the first time since the second round in China – albeit half-a-second off Piastri's pace. Leclerc had to settle for seventh with Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli splitting the Ferrari pair. Hamilton later took aim at the new front-wing technical directive. 'It has not made a difference,' he said. 'What a waste of money. The wings still bend and everyone has had to spend more money. It doesn't make sense. I would have given that money to charity.'
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Lance Stroll pulls out of Spanish Grand Prix with wrist injury
Aston Martin 's Lance Stroll has withdrawn from Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix through injury. Stroll qualified 14th at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya but his team said the decision not to contest the ninth round of the campaign related to a broken wrist he sustained in a cycling accident ahead of the 2023 season. A statement from the British team said: "Over the course of the past six weeks Lance has been experiencing pain in his hand and wrist, which his medical consultant believes is in relation to the procedure he underwent in 2023. "As a result his medical team have confirmed that he will not race tomorrow and he will undergo a procedure to rectify these issues before focusing on his recovery." Under the rules, Canadian driver Stroll cannot be replaced, leaving a 19-driver grid for Sunday's race. His withdrawal means those who qualified 15th to 20th will all move up one spot. Those affected are Ollie Bearman (Haas), Nico Hulkenberg (Kick Sauber), Esteban Ocon (Haas), Carlos Sainz (Williams), Franco Colapinto (Alpine) and Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull). Oscar Piastri will start from pole position in Spain after he edged out McLaren team-mate Lando Norris. Spanish Grand Prix starting grid 1) Oscar Piastri - McLaren 2) Lando Norris - McLaren 3) Max Verstappen - Red Bull 4) George Russell - Mercedes 5) Lewis Hamilton - Ferrari 6) Kimi Antonelli - Mercedes 7) Charles Leclerc - Ferrari 8) Pierre Gasly - Alpine 9) Isack Hadjar - Racing Bulls 10) Fernando Alonso - Aston Martin 11) Alex Albon - Williams 12) Gabriel Bortoleto - Kick Sauber 13) Liam Lawson - Racing Bulls 14) Ollie Bearman - Haas 15) Nico Hulkenberg - Kick Sauber 16) Esteban Ocon - Haas 17) Carlos Sainz - Williams 18) Franco Colapinto - Alpine 19) Yuki Tsunoda - Red Bull
