Latest news with #LandoNorris
New York Times
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- New York Times
Encouraging for Lewis Hamilton
Follow live reaction to FP1 and FP2 as Barcelona hosts Round 9 of the 2025 Formula One season Getty Images McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were quickest in the two Friday practice sessions ahead of the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix. Norris, who trails Piastri by three points in the World Championship standings after eight of 24 rounds, set a best time of one minute and 13.718 seconds at the Circuit de Catalunya in FP1. Piastri then improved on that in FP2, with a time of one minute and 12.760 seconds. The action resumes with FP3 on Saturday, at 11.30am BST / 6.30am EDT. Join the conversation: live@ GO FURTHER Lando Norris is resurgent, but his biggest test yet arrives in Spain Connections: Sports Edition Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Getty Images After that near collision with Isack Hadjar, Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton has enjoyed a fruitful session. After opting for the softs he was just 0.011s off overhauling Max Verstappen at the top of the standings, before Lando Norris' lap. Hamilton is also a tenth quicker than his Ferrari colleague Charles Leclerc. Getty Images Nico Hulkenberg was the first driver to opt for the softs and now everybody is at it. Charles Leclerc briefly goes top before he is beaten by Max Verstappen, who is in turn overhauled by Lando Norris who sets a blistering 1:13.718. That will make the rest of the paddock sit up and take notice. George Russell goes fastest with a 1:14.751 after ditching the hard compound tyres for the mediums. Lando Norris remains second and Fernado Alonso has been nudged down to fourth by Russell's Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli. Getty Images We almost had contact there! Lewis Hamilton tried to get past Isack Hadjar on the inside and it seemed as though the young Racing Bulls driver didn't spot the seven-time world champion. He narrowed the gap as he took the corner and Hamilton was forced to back off to avoid a clash. Getty Images Something very F1 is happening within the flexi-wing clampdown this weekend. McLaren has officially declared it has brought zero upgrades for this event, around what the teams must do if they're introducing new parts. But it has in fact got a new front wing on its MCL39s, which is designed to pass the new FIA tests on flexing. The reason why it doesn't have to declare the new design is because its an identical shape to the wing it has used to this point in the season, just with stronger (beefier, anyone?) construction of the same shape. Ferrari did the reverse late in 2024 to introduce a new front wing that flexed more when under aero load. McLaren has actually used its new wing before - in practice at Imola on Lando Norris' car. Fascinating... Getty Images Hello from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya! Compared to Monaco, it's so, so much hotter and there's a total lack of breeze at the track, meaning this is set to be a more challenging weekend. It wouldn't be a surprise to me if the McLarens end up with an edge over the field — depending on the impact of the new technical directive, naturally... — given how much of an advantage the team has built with tire management and preventing overheating this year. That said, this is also a track that should better-suit Red Bull and Max Verstappen than Monaco, where all they could muster was P4 after a hail mary strategy. Getty Images Lando Norris has moved back to the top of the leaderboard. He overhauls Fernando Alonso with an impressive 1:15.259. Everybody is running on the hard tyres at the moment with the notable exceptions of Lance Stroll and Franco Colapinto, who are giving the medium compounds a whirl. Getty Images There are two unfamiliar names in the cars for this session: Williams junior Victor Martins is in for Alex Albon, with Ryo Hirakawa temporarily replacing Esteban Ocon at Haas. Hirakawa has actually popped up before this season - when he drove what was then Jack Doohan's Alpine at Suzuka. Hirakawa promptly left Alpine's pile of reserve drivers after his home F1 event and was signed officially as Haas' reserve driver, with the American team in a technical partnership with Toyota, where Hirakawa has raced in sportscars since 2022. Getty Images The home fans love that! Fernando Alonso, the darling of the crowd, punches in a 1:15.480 to go quickest. Moments before Ryo Hirakawa drove his Haas wide and into the gravel. 'I'm sorry, sorry, sorry,' he quickly said on the team radio. Getty Images There is going to be a lot of chat this weekend about flexi-front wings, with the FIA clamping down on an F1 technology (aeroelasticity to be really specific) area where McLaren is said to be really strong and Red Bull has been lobbying about. It's a complex but important topic, but Madeline Coleman has distilled all the noise down to the absolute essentials you need in this article, the latest in our 'Between the Racing Lines' explainer series. GO FURTHER What are F1 flexi-wings and why do new FIA tests matter so much this season? Lando Norris has already gone top, with a 1m 16.095s. He's followed by his McLaren team-mate, Oscar Piastri, who is 0.009 seconds slower. Getty Images Victor Martins' Williams is the first car out on track. Most drivers are out on the hardest tyre compound, as expected. It's an absolutely beautiful day in Barcelona: bright sunshine with 0% chance of rain in the session. The track temperature is a boiling 47C. Getty Images Let's have ourselves some practice. Two driver changes to tell you about today: Victor Martins will make his Formula 1 debut, coming in for Alex Albon at Williams, while Ryo Hirakawa switches in for Esteban Ocon at Haas. Martins, 23, was named best rookie in Formula 2 last season. Getty Images Lando Norris isn't getting carried away after winning the Monaco Grand Prix. One third of the way through the 2025 Formula One season, he still trails McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in the points standings. 💬 'What I felt this weekend was a small step forward,' Norris, the pre-season favorite, said after clinching Monaco glory. 'But it's not it. It's not like I've nailed it now and everything's back.' Norris's Monaco victory was magic — but it was only his second grand prix win of a campaign his McLaren team has dominated. Piastri has won four races. Simply put, Norris's bounce-back win in Monaco will mean little if he lets the points gap swell back up from three at the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend. But the pressure is also on his ice-cool teammate. In 2024, Barcelona was the scene of one of Piastri's biggest defeats to Norris. While his teammate started on pole and pushed Max Verstappen for victory, Piastri qualified 10th and finished over 30 seconds down. It was the sort of result that often leads Verstappen's Red Bull to be declared a one-car team. GO FURTHER Lando Norris is resurgent, but his biggest test yet arrives in Spain Getty Images Joe E: 'It still baffles me how F1 can't find another circuit to host testing which isn't on the calendar, it prevents what has become of this track in recent years … an absolute borefest.' Mike T: 'I've found that this is a race where the best cars win out. Last year I think Russell and Perez had poor qualifiers but still finished top 5. You want to outqualify the people in your weight class, but if you're in a Mercedes and qualify behind a Haas, you are overtaking that Haas.' … and remember, you can get involved today by emailing live@ Sign up to our Prime Tire newsletter Prime Tire is with us throughout the 2025 season and it is well worth your attention. The latest edition of our F1 newsletter sees staff editor Patrick Iversen enjoy the heat being turned up in the drivers' championship and tries to pick a way through the Monaco debris so the race can be preserved (which isn't easy). You can take in our latest Prime Tire newsletter below — and if you like what you read, why not sign up to the twice-weekly missive that you will receive directly in your inbox? You can subscribe to that for free right here. GO FURTHER F1 drivers' championship fight regains momentum. Plus, what to do about Monaco Formula 1 In the teams' championship, McLaren now has more than double the points total of its closest rival. That makes sense with Red Bull, given Max Verstappen has scored 136 of its 143 points. Mercedes are only four more points up the road in second, with Ferrari a solitary point behind the fizzy drinks cars. Aston Martin is the team that will be looking for some big strides over the coming races. They sit P8, with just 14 points — all of them scored by Lance Stroll.
CNET
6 hours ago
- Business
- CNET
F1: How to Watch and Stream the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix
Round 9 of the 2025 F1 season brings the action to Barcelona, with Lando Norris aiming to ramp up the pressure on McLaren teammate and current Drivers' Championship leader Oscar Piastri. Below, we'll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the race as it happens, wherever you are in the world, and how to use a VPN if it's not available where you are. Norris' triumph at last weekend's Monaco GP means the English ace is just three points behind Piastri in second place, with the Australian star looking to end a two-race winless streak. The McLaren duo will both be looking to break Max Verstappen's stranglehold on the Spanish GP, with the Red Bull racer having won the last three races that have taken place in Barcelona. The Spanish GP takes place on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Sunday, June 1, at 3 p.m. CEST. Lights-out in the UK is at 2 p.m. BST, and it's a 9 a.m. ET (6 a.m. PT) start in the US and Canada. Australian viewers will be looking at an 11 p.m. AEST start on Monday night. The race will air in the US on ESPN and ESPN Plus. The entire race weekend, including practice sessions and qualifying, will be shown in the US on ESPN's family of TV and streaming networks. Folks who want to follow the whole race weekend will need access to the ABC and ESPN news channels on cable or live TV streaming services, or the ESPN Plus streaming service. We've broken down everything you need to know, including how to use a VPN to stream the race, and all the other F1 races this season. Max Verstappen currently holds the F1 lap record for the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya having clocked a time of 1m 16.330s, which he set back in 2023Livestream the Spanish GP in the US Every Formula One race during the 2025 season will be televised on ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC. All practice and qualifying sessions and all F1 Sprint events will also be broadcast. This race will be broadcast on ESPN. Selected races will stream on ESPN Plus, featuring two alternate streams for all races (Driver Tracker and mixed onboard cameras). James Martin/CNET ESPN Plus Carries F1 races in the US ESPN's standalone streaming service is great for casual fans of F1 and is a must-have accessory for fanatics. It costs $12 a month or $120 a year. If you're an F1 fan who's also looking to get your Disney fix, the Disney trio bundle (Hulu, Disney Plus and ESPN Plus) might end up being an even better buy. It's great for fans who love catching the parts of the race weekend that typically air on EPSN2 or ESPNews, and also want the latest Marvel movies or Star Wars shows. If you're a diehard fan of motorsports and Formula Series racing, ESPN Plus might not be for you, given that it rarely covers F2, F3 or Porsche Supercar racing. That's why ESPN Plus is ideal for casual fans who enjoy catching a race every once in a while or fans who don't want or need all of the extra bells and whistles of F1 TV but want to beef up their coverage options. Read our full review of ESPN Plus. See at ESPN Plus How to watch the Spanish GP online from anywhere with a VPN If you're traveling abroad and want to keep up with the Formula One season while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming. It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds, and can also be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, adding an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security. However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN usage to access region-specific content. If you're considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform's terms of service to ensure compliance. If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider's installation instructions, ensuring you're connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected, so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN usage is crucial. James Martin/CNET ExpressVPN Best VPN for streaming Price $13 per month, $100 for the first 15 months (then $117 per year) or $140 for the first 28 months (then $150 per year) Latest Tests No DNS leaks detected, 18% speed loss in 2025 tests Network 3,000 plus servers in 105 countries Jurisdiction British Virgin Islands ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It's normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100, you'll get three months free and save 49%. That's the equivalent of $6.67 a month. Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. 61% off with 2yr plan (+4 free months) See at ExpressVPN How to livestream the Spanish GP in the UK F1 is shown in the UK on Sky Sports and Channel 4. Sky Sports airs the races, practice rounds and qualifying, while free-to-air Channel 4 offers highlights that broadcast after the day's action. If you already have Sky Sports as part of your TV package, you can stream the race via its app, but cord-cutters can watch Sky TV with unlimited Sky Sports on a Now TV membership. Sky Sports Sky Sports and Now TV F1 streaming in the UK Sky subsidiary Now offers streaming access to Sky Sports channels with a Now Sports membership. You can get a day of access for £15, or sign up to a monthly plan from £35 per month right now. See at Sky Livestream the Spanish GP in Canada Canadian F1 fans can watch every GP this season, including this race, on TSN and its streaming service, TSN Plus. Existing TSN cable subscribers can also watch at no extra charge using the details of their TV provider. TSN TSN Plus Carries F1 in Canada TSN Plus is a direct-streaming service that costs CA$8 a month and also offers coverage of PGA Tour Live golf, NFL games, F1, NASCAR and the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments. See at TSN Livestream the Spanish GP in Australia Grands Prix can be watched down under on Fox Sports via Foxtel. If you're not a Fox subscriber, your best option is to sign up for the streaming service Kayo Sports. Kayo Sports Kayo Sports Watch F1 in Australia for AU$25 A Kayo Sports subscription starts at AU$25 a month and lets you stream on one screen, while its Premium tier costs AU$35 a month for simultaneous viewing on up to three devices. The service gives you access to a wide range of sports, including F1, NRL, NFL, NHL and MLB, and there are no lock-in contracts. Better still, if you're a new customer, you can take advantage of a one-week Kayo Sports free trial. See at Kayo Sports When, where and what time are the races? Races are usually held on Sundays and are typically spaced two weeks apart. Here's the entire schedule. 2025 F1 schedule Date Grand Prix Circuit Start time (ET) March 16 Australian Grand Prix Albert Park Circuit 12 a.m. March 23 Chinese Grand Prix Shanghai International Circuit 3 a.m. April 6 Japanese Grand Prix Suzuka International Racing Course 1 a.m. April 13 Bahrain Grand Prix Bahrain International Circuit 11 a.m. April 20 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Jeddah Corniche Circuit 1 p.m. May 4 Miami Grand Prix Miami International Autodrome 4 p.m. May 18 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Imola Circuit 9 a.m. May 25 Monaco Grand Prix Circuit de Monaco 9 a.m. June 1 Spanish Grand Prix Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 9 a.m. June 15 Canadian Grand Prix Circuit Gilles Villeneuve 2 p.m. June 29 Austrian Grand Prix Red Bull Ring 9 a.m. July 6 British Grand Prix Silverstone Circuit 10 a.m. July 27 Belgian Grand Prix Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps 9 a.m. Aug. 3 Hungarian Grand Prix Hungaroring 9 a.m. Aug. 31 Dutch Grand Prix Circuit Zandvoort 9 a.m. Sept. 7 Italian Grand Prix Monza Circuit 9 a.m. Sept. 21 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Baku City Circuit 7 a.m. Oct. 5 Singapore Grand Prix Marina Bay Street Circuit 8 a.m. Oct. 19 United States Grand Prix Circuit of the Americas 3 p.m. Oct. 26 Mexico City Grand Prix Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez 4 p.m. Nov. 9 São Paulo Grand Prix Interlagos Circuit 12 p.m. Nov. 22 Las Vegas Grand Prix Las Vegas Strip Circuit 11 p.m. Nov. 30 Qatar Grand Prix Lusail International Circuit 11 a.m. Dec. 7 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Yas Marina Circuit 8 a.m. Quick tips for streaming the Spanish GP using a VPN
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
How a royal dinner set up a 'restorative' Monaco win for Lando Norris as he bids to catch Oscar Piastri atop the F1 leaderboard
It's crunch time for Lando Norris. Just as it was after his fine win in Australia eight races ago, when we waited to see if he had turned a psychological corner. But then he went: second, second, third, fourth, second, second. Not winning in those six races cost the Bristolian the world championship lead to his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri. Consequently, he doubted himself. Then came his restorative win in Monaco last weekend, his calm execution in an uneventful race converting his exemplary qualifying lap. A weight was lifted from his shoulders before his trip to the Grimaldi Palace for dinner with Albert II and the great and good of his Principality. The roof was opened to reveal fireworks crackling in his honour. So was that a reliable turning point, the latest moment that armed him with conviction enough to get the better of Piastri and his nemesis of last year, the drone-proofed Max Verstapppen? Norris was coy and crossed his arms as he answered that poser in the McLaren motorhome ahead of Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix, where he will start three points adrift of Piastri and 22 ahead of Verstappen. 'It's a lift…' he said of the Monaco win, a little warily. 'I wouldn't say any one race really lifts me or puts me down. It's more a combination of results which influences things. 'I'm not suddenly feeling on top of the world because I did one great quali and one good race. 'I win a race, and then on the Monday I'm at home eating Kinder bars and having Capri Sun, back to normal.' Not all is as usual in Barcelona. A technical directive, introduced here, is curbing the extent to which front wings can flex. The ruling may conceivably narrow McLaren's advantage over the rest of the field. Norris has downplayed that possibility. Evidence of testing supported his assertion. He was fastest in the first session and Piastri in the second. Both were conducted in serious heat – 45 degree track temperature – suited to the papaya cars. Over the course of the day, Mercedes' George Russell was second quickest, Verstappen third and Norris fourth. All the questions over mental fortitude, or possible lack of it, seem to be aimed at Norris. His self-expressed doubts over the past nine months have invited such concerns. But what about the vulnerabilities of Piastri and Verstappen, he was asked? And what strengths does he have over them? He did not like to enumerate any chinks he may have spotted – though he hinted has he spotted areas ripe to be exploited. 'I hate talking about other drivers,' he said. 'Max is one of the greatest ever and I am happy saying that. 'At the top level of sport, I wouldn't say someone has a weakness, just a slightly weaker area compared to someone else that is incredible.' And does Max possess a flaw? 'Maybe,' he said. Piastri, at 24 a year younger than Norris, is seen as calmness personified at the wheel, though the Australian could not find his rhythm in Monaco. Norris was smooth and reliable throughout. As for what goes on between their ears, Piastri said: 'Lando knows himself much better than I do, but speaking for me, being mentally resilient is certainly a strength of mine. 'There is a lot of work that goes into that. It doesn't happen by magic. What you see is what you get with me. But I still feel emotions, right. 'I am not immune to that. But it is about how you channel that and get in the right state. 'As a driver, you have to believe that you are the best. You have to go into every race thinking that. 'And that has to be the mindset when you fight for the world championship, too. 'Would I be disappointed if I didn't win the title? Yes. It would hurt. 'But I am still young and I hope I get this opportunity more than once.' The McLaren boys may get another crack at the title but there are no guarantees of that, which is why every race is a test of their mettle. How Norris, in particular, reacts is the recurrent question.
New York Times
10 hours ago
- Automotive
- New York Times
Why the conditions could benefit McLaren
Follow live reaction to FP1 and FP2 as Barcelona hosts Round 9 of the 2025 Formula One season Getty Images McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were quickest in the two Friday practice sessions ahead of the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix. Norris, who trails Piastri by three points in the World Championship standings after eight of 24 rounds, set a best time of one minute and 13.718 seconds at the Circuit de Catalunya in FP1. Piastri then improved on that in FP2, with a time of one minute and 12.760 seconds. The action resumes with FP3 on Saturday, at 11.30am BST / 6.30am EDT. Join the conversation: live@ GO FURTHER Lando Norris is resurgent, but his biggest test yet arrives in Spain Connections: Sports Edition Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Getty Images Hello from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya! Compared to Monaco, it's so, so much hotter and there's a total lack of breeze at the track, meaning this is set to be a more challenging weekend. It wouldn't be a surprise to me if the McLarens end up with an edge over the field — depending on the impact of the new technical directive, naturally... — given how much of an advantage the team has built with tire management and preventing overheating this year. That said, this is also a track that should better-suit Red Bull and Max Verstappen than Monaco, where all they could muster was P4 after a hail mary strategy. Getty Images Lando Norris has moved back to the top of the leaderboard. He overhauls Fernando Alonso with an impressive 1:15.259. Everybody is running on the hard tyres at the moment with the notable exceptions of Lance Stroll and Franco Colapinto, who are giving the medium compounds a whirl. Getty Images There are two unfamiliar names in the cars for this session: Williams junior Victor Martins is in for Alex Albon, with Ryo Hirakawa temporarily replacing Esteban Ocon at Haas. Hirakawa has actually popped up before this season - when he drove what was then Jack Doohan's Alpine at Suzuka. Hirakawa promptly left Alpine's pile of reserve drivers after his home F1 event and was signed officially as Haas' reserve driver, with the American team in a technical partnership with Toyota, where Hirakawa has raced in sportscars since 2022. Getty Images The home fans love that! Fernando Alonso, the darling of the crowd, punches in a 1:15.480 to go quickest. Moments before Ryo Hirakawa drove his Haas wide and into the gravel. 'I'm sorry, sorry, sorry,' he quickly said on the team radio. Getty Images There is going to be a lot of chat this weekend about flexi-front wings, with the FIA clamping down on an F1 technology (aeroelasticity to be really specific) area where McLaren is said to be really strong and Red Bull has been lobbying about. It's a complex but important topic, but Madeline Coleman has distilled all the noise down to the absolute essentials you need in this article, the latest in our 'Between the Racing Lines' explainer series. GO FURTHER What are F1 flexi-wings and why do new FIA tests matter so much this season? Lando Norris has already gone top, with a 1m 16.095s. He's followed by his McLaren team-mate, Oscar Piastri, who is 0.009 seconds slower. Getty Images Victor Martins' Williams is the first car out on track. Most drivers are out on the hardest tyre compound, as expected. It's an absolutely beautiful day in Barcelona: bright sunshine with 0% chance of rain in the session. The track temperature is a boiling 47C. Getty Images Let's have ourselves some practice. Two driver changes to tell you about today: Victor Martins will make his Formula 1 debut, coming in for Alex Albon at Williams, while Ryo Hirakawa switches in for Esteban Ocon at Haas. Martins, 23, was named best rookie in Formula 2 last season. Getty Images Lando Norris isn't getting carried away after winning the Monaco Grand Prix. One third of the way through the 2025 Formula One season, he still trails McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in the points standings. 💬 'What I felt this weekend was a small step forward,' Norris, the pre-season favorite, said after clinching Monaco glory. 'But it's not it. It's not like I've nailed it now and everything's back.' Norris's Monaco victory was magic — but it was only his second grand prix win of a campaign his McLaren team has dominated. Piastri has won four races. Simply put, Norris's bounce-back win in Monaco will mean little if he lets the points gap swell back up from three at the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend. But the pressure is also on his ice-cool teammate. In 2024, Barcelona was the scene of one of Piastri's biggest defeats to Norris. While his teammate started on pole and pushed Max Verstappen for victory, Piastri qualified 10th and finished over 30 seconds down. It was the sort of result that often leads Verstappen's Red Bull to be declared a one-car team. GO FURTHER Lando Norris is resurgent, but his biggest test yet arrives in Spain Getty Images Joe E: 'It still baffles me how F1 can't find another circuit to host testing which isn't on the calendar, it prevents what has become of this track in recent years … an absolute borefest.' Mike T: 'I've found that this is a race where the best cars win out. Last year I think Russell and Perez had poor qualifiers but still finished top 5. You want to outqualify the people in your weight class, but if you're in a Mercedes and qualify behind a Haas, you are overtaking that Haas.' … and remember, you can get involved today by emailing live@ Sign up to our Prime Tire newsletter Prime Tire is with us throughout the 2025 season and it is well worth your attention. The latest edition of our F1 newsletter sees staff editor Patrick Iversen enjoy the heat being turned up in the drivers' championship and tries to pick a way through the Monaco debris so the race can be preserved (which isn't easy). You can take in our latest Prime Tire newsletter below — and if you like what you read, why not sign up to the twice-weekly missive that you will receive directly in your inbox? You can subscribe to that for free right here. GO FURTHER F1 drivers' championship fight regains momentum. Plus, what to do about Monaco Formula 1 In the teams' championship, McLaren now has more than double the points total of its closest rival. That makes sense with Red Bull, given Max Verstappen has scored 136 of its 143 points. Mercedes are only four more points up the road in second, with Ferrari a solitary point behind the fizzy drinks cars. Aston Martin is the team that will be looking for some big strides over the coming races. They sit P8, with just 14 points — all of them scored by Lance Stroll. Formula 1 Having seen his McLaren teammate win in Monaco from pole, Oscar Piastri's lead in the drivers' championship over Lando Norris is down to just three points. Max Verstappen remains in the hunt behind too, especially if his Red Bull benefits from upgrades and updates now Barcelona has arrived. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso arrives at his home race without a single championship point this year. The same can be said for Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto and Alpine's Franco Colapinto — although Liam Lawson did finally get on the board with four points and P8 in Monaco. Getty Images Lando Norris won the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix from pole, ahead of home hero Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren — but the race's story was dominated by a new rule requiring every driver to do two pit stops. The rule was introduced after the 2024 Monaco race was a lifeless procession following a red flag on Lap 1, and it did produce talking points across the field this year. Several teams employed tactics that meant one driver helped their teammate by slowing down rivals behind, while fourth-place finisher Max Verstappen stopped for the final time ahead of the final lap, well out of sync with the other leaders. Our experts, Luke Smith and Madeline Coleman , were in Monaco and you can grab their takeaways from last weekend below. GO FURTHER Monaco GP: Lando Norris wins hectic race, Mercedes frustrated by Williams tactics Getty Images We are rattling through the races in 2025, with our first European races done and dusted. A trip to Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix follows this weekend, before the real meat of the European season arrives: 1: Australia — NORRIS (Win & Pole) 2: China — PIASTRI (W&P) 3: Japan — VERSTAPPEN (W&P) 4: Bahrain — PIASTRI (W&P) 5: Saudi Arabia — PIASTRI W (Verstappen P) 6: Miami — PIASTRI W (Verstappen P) 7: Emilia-Romagna — VERSTAPPEN W (Piastri P) 8: Monaco — NORRIS (W&P) 9: Spain (Barcelona) — IN PROGRESS 10: Canada (Montreal) — Jun 13-15 11: Austria (Spielberg) — Jun 27-29 12: Britain (Silverstone) — Jul 4-6 13: Belgium (Spa) — Jul 25-27 14: Hungary (Hungaroring) — Aug 1-3 15: Netherlands (Zandvoort) — Aug 29-31 16: Italy (Monza) — Sep 5-7 17: Azerbaijan (Baku) — Sep 19-21 18: Singapore (Marina Bay) — Oct 3-5 19: United States (Austin) — Oct 17-19 20: Mexico (Mexico City) — Oct 24-26 21: Brazil (São Paulo) — Nov 7-9 22: Las Vegas (Nevada) — Nov 20-22 23: Qatar (Lusail) — Nov 28-30 24: Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina) — Dec 5-7 We are already a third of the way through this season. Getty Images We are here for all your second screen needs and F1 insights, but we love watching sport and we know live pictures have their place too. So here's where you can watch the track narratives unfold over the course of the Barcelona sessions, alongside our live coverage: U.S.: ESPN ESPN UK: Sky Sports Sky Sports Canada: TSN TSN Australia: Fox Sports, Kayo Fox Sports, Kayo Global: Getty Images The end of a European triple header following Emilia-Romagna and Monaco, these session times should feel a little familiar by this point. Our first hour of free practice is on the way shortly, with the green light for FP1 scheduled for 7:30 a.m. ET. That is 4:30 a.m. on the west coast and 12:30 p.m. in the UK. FP2 then takes place from 11 a.m. ET, which is 8 a.m. PT and 4 p.m. BST. Come Saturday it's a 6:30 a.m start on the east coast for FP3, so 3:30 a.m. PT and 11:30 a.m. in the UK — ahead of a crucial qualifying at 10 a.m. eastern; which is 7 a.m PT and 3 p.m. BST. All of which paves the way for Sunday's race, with lights out at 9 a.m. ET, 6 a.m. PT and 2 p.m. in the UK. How lovely it is to have the semblance of a routine.
New York Times
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- New York Times
Softs go quickest
Follow live reaction to FP1 and FP2 as Barcelona hosts Round 9 of the 2025 Formula One season Getty Images McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were quickest in the two Friday practice sessions ahead of the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix. Norris, who trails Piastri by three points in the World Championship standings after eight of 24 rounds, set a best time of one minute and 13.718 seconds at the Circuit de Catalunya in FP1. Piastri then improved on that in FP2, with a time of one minute and 12.760 seconds. The action resumes with FP3 on Saturday, at 11.30am BST / 6.30am EDT. Join the conversation: live@ GO FURTHER Lando Norris is resurgent, but his biggest test yet arrives in Spain Connections: Sports Edition Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Getty Images Nico Hulkenberg was the first driver to opt for the softs and now everybody is at it. Charles Leclerc briefly goes top before he is beaten by Max Verstappen, who is in turn overhauled by Lando Norris who sets a blistering 1:13.718. That will make the rest of the paddock sit up and take notice. George Russell goes fastest with a 1:14.751 after ditching the hard compound tyres for the mediums. Lando Norris remains second and Fernado Alonso has been nudged down to fourth by Russell's Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli. Getty Images We almost had contact there! Lewis Hamilton tried to get past Isack Hadjar on the inside and it seemed as though the young Racing Bulls driver didn't spot the seven-time world champion. He narrowed the gap as he took the corner and Hamilton was forced to back off to avoid a clash. Getty Images Something very F1 is happening within the flexi-wing clampdown this weekend. McLaren has officially declared it has brought zero upgrades for this event, around what the teams must do if they're introducing new parts. But it has in fact got a new front wing on its MCL39s, which is designed to pass the new FIA tests on flexing. The reason why it doesn't have to declare the new design is because its an identical shape to the wing it has used to this point in the season, just with stronger (beefier, anyone?) construction of the same shape. Ferrari did the reverse late in 2024 to introduce a new front wing that flexed more when under aero load. McLaren has actually used its new wing before - in practice at Imola on Lando Norris' car. Fascinating... Getty Images Hello from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya! Compared to Monaco, it's so, so much hotter and there's a total lack of breeze at the track, meaning this is set to be a more challenging weekend. It wouldn't be a surprise to me if the McLarens end up with an edge over the field — depending on the impact of the new technical directive, naturally... — given how much of an advantage the team has built with tire management and preventing overheating this year. That said, this is also a track that should better-suit Red Bull and Max Verstappen than Monaco, where all they could muster was P4 after a hail mary strategy. Getty Images Lando Norris has moved back to the top of the leaderboard. He overhauls Fernando Alonso with an impressive 1:15.259. Everybody is running on the hard tyres at the moment with the notable exceptions of Lance Stroll and Franco Colapinto, who are giving the medium compounds a whirl. Getty Images There are two unfamiliar names in the cars for this session: Williams junior Victor Martins is in for Alex Albon, with Ryo Hirakawa temporarily replacing Esteban Ocon at Haas. Hirakawa has actually popped up before this season - when he drove what was then Jack Doohan's Alpine at Suzuka. Hirakawa promptly left Alpine's pile of reserve drivers after his home F1 event and was signed officially as Haas' reserve driver, with the American team in a technical partnership with Toyota, where Hirakawa has raced in sportscars since 2022. Getty Images The home fans love that! Fernando Alonso, the darling of the crowd, punches in a 1:15.480 to go quickest. Moments before Ryo Hirakawa drove his Haas wide and into the gravel. 'I'm sorry, sorry, sorry,' he quickly said on the team radio. Getty Images There is going to be a lot of chat this weekend about flexi-front wings, with the FIA clamping down on an F1 technology (aeroelasticity to be really specific) area where McLaren is said to be really strong and Red Bull has been lobbying about. It's a complex but important topic, but Madeline Coleman has distilled all the noise down to the absolute essentials you need in this article, the latest in our 'Between the Racing Lines' explainer series. GO FURTHER What are F1 flexi-wings and why do new FIA tests matter so much this season? Lando Norris has already gone top, with a 1m 16.095s. He's followed by his McLaren team-mate, Oscar Piastri, who is 0.009 seconds slower. Getty Images Victor Martins' Williams is the first car out on track. Most drivers are out on the hardest tyre compound, as expected. It's an absolutely beautiful day in Barcelona: bright sunshine with 0% chance of rain in the session. The track temperature is a boiling 47C. Getty Images Let's have ourselves some practice. Two driver changes to tell you about today: Victor Martins will make his Formula 1 debut, coming in for Alex Albon at Williams, while Ryo Hirakawa switches in for Esteban Ocon at Haas. Martins, 23, was named best rookie in Formula 2 last season. Getty Images Lando Norris isn't getting carried away after winning the Monaco Grand Prix. One third of the way through the 2025 Formula One season, he still trails McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in the points standings. 💬 'What I felt this weekend was a small step forward,' Norris, the pre-season favorite, said after clinching Monaco glory. 'But it's not it. It's not like I've nailed it now and everything's back.' Norris's Monaco victory was magic — but it was only his second grand prix win of a campaign his McLaren team has dominated. Piastri has won four races. Simply put, Norris's bounce-back win in Monaco will mean little if he lets the points gap swell back up from three at the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend. But the pressure is also on his ice-cool teammate. In 2024, Barcelona was the scene of one of Piastri's biggest defeats to Norris. While his teammate started on pole and pushed Max Verstappen for victory, Piastri qualified 10th and finished over 30 seconds down. It was the sort of result that often leads Verstappen's Red Bull to be declared a one-car team. GO FURTHER Lando Norris is resurgent, but his biggest test yet arrives in Spain Getty Images Joe E: 'It still baffles me how F1 can't find another circuit to host testing which isn't on the calendar, it prevents what has become of this track in recent years … an absolute borefest.' Mike T: 'I've found that this is a race where the best cars win out. Last year I think Russell and Perez had poor qualifiers but still finished top 5. You want to outqualify the people in your weight class, but if you're in a Mercedes and qualify behind a Haas, you are overtaking that Haas.' … and remember, you can get involved today by emailing live@ Sign up to our Prime Tire newsletter Prime Tire is with us throughout the 2025 season and it is well worth your attention. The latest edition of our F1 newsletter sees staff editor Patrick Iversen enjoy the heat being turned up in the drivers' championship and tries to pick a way through the Monaco debris so the race can be preserved (which isn't easy). You can take in our latest Prime Tire newsletter below — and if you like what you read, why not sign up to the twice-weekly missive that you will receive directly in your inbox? You can subscribe to that for free right here. GO FURTHER F1 drivers' championship fight regains momentum. Plus, what to do about Monaco Formula 1 In the teams' championship, McLaren now has more than double the points total of its closest rival. That makes sense with Red Bull, given Max Verstappen has scored 136 of its 143 points. Mercedes are only four more points up the road in second, with Ferrari a solitary point behind the fizzy drinks cars. Aston Martin is the team that will be looking for some big strides over the coming races. They sit P8, with just 14 points — all of them scored by Lance Stroll. Formula 1 Having seen his McLaren teammate win in Monaco from pole, Oscar Piastri's lead in the drivers' championship over Lando Norris is down to just three points. Max Verstappen remains in the hunt behind too, especially if his Red Bull benefits from upgrades and updates now Barcelona has arrived. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso arrives at his home race without a single championship point this year. The same can be said for Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto and Alpine's Franco Colapinto — although Liam Lawson did finally get on the board with four points and P8 in Monaco.
