Latest news with #CircuitdeBarcelonaCatalunya
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Irish Times
Oscar Piastri leads McLaren one-two in Spanish GP as Max Verstappen pays penalty
Oscar Piastri won the Spanish Grand Prix with a dominant run at the front of the field at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to secure victory in front of his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris. However the race was marked by a late moment of impetuous anger from Max Verstappen that cost Red Bull's defending world champion a huge points loss to the leaders. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was in third. The race had been an intriguing strategic contest if not a thriller until a late safety car. With five laps to go, Piastri held his lead from the restart and Leclerc pounced on Verstappen, who almost completely lost the rear as he came out of the final corner, his hard tyres having no grip. Verstappen then had contact with Mercedes's George Russell as the pair went through turn one and Verstappen went off but held his place. He was told to let Russell through but was clearly aggrieved. He moved over to let the British driver past and as he did so, he then drove side-on into the Mercedes. [ Alex Dunne regains lead in Formula 2 drivers' championship Opens in new window ] He was immediately investigated by the stewards, while Russell still had the place, and Verstappen was swiftly given a 10-second time penalty, dropping him to 10th. Piastri now leads Norris by 10 points in the title fight but Verstappen has dropped to 49 points back, after what was an enormously costly moment for the Dutchman. READ MORE It was McLaren's first win in Spain for two decades as the team served notice they retain a formidable advantage over the rest of the field. Russell took fourth, with Nico Hülkenberg a superb fifth for Sauber. The late drama came only after the two McLarens had dominated the race, with Verstappen and Red Bull doing their best to stay in the fight with an alternate three-stop strategy. It had paid off, despite being outpaced, with the world champion very much in the mix and on for a podium place when a late safety car closed the pack up and there was a final dash for the last five laps. Red Bull's Max Verstappen after Sunday's race. Photograph:Verstappen's three stops had used up all his soft tyres, meaning he was forced on to the slower hard rubber, which left him impotent at the restart and led to the frustration and dangerous driving that will doubtless face enormous criticism far beyond the penalty he received. The three drivers on the podium were left speechless when they watched it in the cool-down room. Beyond the incident the result was conclusive evidence, were any further needed, that the FIA's technical directive restricting the flexing of front wings, applied at this race, has made little to no difference to the pecking order. In the build-up to the meeting the clampdown had dominated discussion as to whether it might materially affect the championship leaders. McLaren had been bullish that this was not where the strength of their car lay and have been proved correct in every session this weekend. Their car is still dominant, surely putting the issue to bed once and for all but more important indicating that if they are to be caught it will take a major step forward from their rivals. The race belonged to Piastri, who was in assured control from the front, with the same measured, calm confidence that sat in stark contrast to Verstappen's temper as the 24-year-old Australian reminded everyone he has the traits of a world champion in waiting. Lewis Hamilton was in sixth for Ferrari, Isack Hadjar in seventh for Racing Bulls, Pierre Gasly eighth for Alpine and Fernando Alonso ninth for Aston Martin. – Guardian
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Formula 1: How to watch the Spanish Grand Prix on TV and what to know
MONTMELO, Spain (AP) — Here's a guide that tells you what you need to know about Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix. It's the ninth round of Formula 1. How to watch the Spanish Grand Prix on TV — In the U.S., on ESPN. Advertisement — Other countries are listed here. What is the Spanish Grand Prix schedule? — Sunday: Spanish Grand Prix, 66 laps of the 4.6-kilometer (2.9-mile) Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. It starts at 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m. EDT / 1300 GMT). Where is the Spanish Grand Prix taking place? After the slow and twisty Monaco circuit, F1 is back to full speed at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The first corner at the end of long start-finish straight is the best of relatively few opportunities to overtake. The circuit is under contract with F1 for another year but its long-term future is uncertain because a new track in Madrid joins the calendar next year. Max Verstappen has won the Spanish Grand Prix for Red Bull in the last three seasons. Advertisement What does the starting grid look like? Oscar Piastri took pole position right ahead of McLaren partner Lando Norris. Max Verstappen will start from third and need a massive performance or a collapse by the McLarens to keep his winning run going. George Russell will start fourth for Mercedes, with Lewis Hamilton in fifth for Ferrari. What happened in the last race? Lando Norris won the Monaco Grand Prix for his first victory since the season-opening race in Australia in March and closed in on his teammate and standings leader Oscar Piastri. Norris won from Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, with Piastri third and defending champion Max Verstappen fourth. Piastri's lead is three points ahead of Norris and 25 ahead of Verstappen. Advertisement What do I need to know about F1 so far? Get caught up: — Piastri earns pole position at Spanish GP ahead of McLaren teammate Norris — Are we nearing the end of Barcelona's run as an F1 city? Madrid addition puts race in doubt — McLaren's Piastri and Norris out to break Verstappen's hold on Spanish Grand Prix — Fernando Alonso says Aston Martin's big bet on 2026 season weighs heavily on his future — A mundane Monaco? Drivers debate attempt to spice up F1's classic race — Meet the Madring: New Formula 1 circuit in Madrid gets a name Key stats 170 — If Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri qualify on pole position Saturday, it would be McLaren's 170th pole. Only Ferrari has more, with 253. Advertisement 28 — Mercedes' 28-race streak of scoring points in each Grand Prix ended with George Russell placing 11th and Kimi Antonelli 18th in Monaco. 9 — For only the third time in his career, two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin heads into the ninth race of a season without a point. It also happened in 2015 and in his 2001 rookie season. What they're saying 'We were lacking all weekend compared to them. I'm here, squeezing everything out of the car." — Max Verstappen. 'If you think it's just out of me and Oscar, then I think you're a bit silly. We're racing Max every weekend. He's been on the podium several times. He's won races.' — Lando Norris. ___ AP auto racing: The Associated Press
