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Leader Live
42 minutes ago
- Automotive
- Leader Live
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 42
44 minutes ago
- Automotive
- The 42
Piastri outpaces Norris to grab Spanish GP pole
OSCAR PIASTRI outpaced title rival and McLaren team-mate Lando Norris in the final minute of a gripping qualifying session on Saturday to clinch pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix. The championship leader clocked a near-flawless final lap of one minute and 11.546 seconds to beat Norris by 0.209 seconds as McLaren claimed a dominant one-two, having also topped all three practice sessions. Four-time world champion Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull ahead of Mercedes' George Russell, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari and Kimi Antonelli in the second Mercedes. Charles Leclerc was seventh in the second Ferrari ahead of Alpine's Pierre Gasly, Racing Bulls' impressive rookie Isack Hadjar and local hero, two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin. It was Piastri's fourth pole of the season and career as he seeks to extend his three-point lead ahead of Norris in the drivers' championship. 'Nice work, very nicely done, everyone,' said the cool 24-year-old Australian on team radio. 'That's quite some turnaround from last year. Well done, everyone. Let's have some fun tomorrow!' Advertisement He added: 'I'm very glad to be on pole here and now I just need a good start. It's a long run to the first corner!' Norris said: 'Oscar has driven really well, and he deserved it. But it is a great result for the team.' Piastri's two-second advantage is the biggest this season between pole and second place. After an early fast lap from Aston Martin's Lance Stroll in Q1, the big guns arrived in torrid heat with a track temperature of 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), and the air at 29, punishing conditions for tyres on a high-degradation track. The session was briefly stalled when Alpine's Franco Colapinto stopped in the pit lane and, after a delay, forced others to undertake him, leading to a frantic final two minutes. Yuki Tsunoda in the second Red Bull was eliminated in 20th and last place along with Colapinto, Williams' Carlos Sainz — his worst qualifying result at his home event — in 18th, Esteban Ocon of Haas and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg. For Tsunoda, it was a major setback as he sought to solve Red Bull's dilemma in searching for a partner to push Verstappen. At the front, Piastri topped Verstappen and Norris. In Q2, McLaren's duo led the first runs ahead of Verstappen, Russell and a revived Hamilton before choosing not to take a second go as Hadjar shone, taking sixth and splitting the Ferraris. Out went Alex Albon of Williams, Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto, Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson, Stroll and Oliver Bearman in his Haas. The top 10 shootout began with Piastri lapping in 1:11.836 before Norris overhauled him by 0.017sec for provisional pole on the opening charge. Russell was third ahead of Leclerc, Verstappen and Hamilton before a late Alonso lap lifted him to fifth amid roaring appreciation. Cloud cover affected conditions for the second runs as both McLaren men fought for pole, with the Australian prevailing. It was McLaren's first front row lockout in Spain since 1998. – © AFP 2025
The Star
an hour ago
- Automotive
- The Star
Motor racing-Piastri on pole as McLaren lock out front row in Spain
Formula One F1 - Spanish Grand Prix - Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain - May 30, 2025 McLaren's Oscar Piastri during practice REUTERS/Albert Gea BARCELONA (Reuters) -Formula One leader Oscar Piastri seized pole position from teammate and title rival Lando Norris by a hefty margin as dominant McLaren locked out the front row in Spanish Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday. Red Bull's Max Verstappen, last year's winner, qualified third fastest in the same time as Mercedes' George Russell, who will start fourth because the reigning champion finished his lap first. Piastri had set a target time of one minute and 11.836 seconds in the top 10 shootout but Norris went 0.017 quicker thanks to an opportunistic aerodynamic tow, with McLaren still in a league of their own despite stricter front wing flex tests. Norris, winner in Monaco from pole last Sunday to close the gap at the top to three points, managed to improve further to 1:11.755 before Piastri clinched pole with a brilliant final lap of 1:11.546 -- 0.209 seconds quicker around the Circuit de Catalunya. The pole was the Australian's fourth in nine races so far this season. "It wasn't the perfect lap but I think around here with the tyres going off so much through the lap it's very tough to do that," said Piastri, who said over the radio that Norris' slipstream was 'cheeky'. "I'm very happy with all the work we've put in." Norris said he had the pace but made a couple of small mistakes. "Just a couple of little mistakes. Turn One, where you don't want to make a mistake because it harms the tyres for the rest of the lap. A couple of little squiggles there. And Turn Four as well," he explained. "A good result for the team, a nice one-two and an interesting start for tomorrow," added the Briton, who started on pole last year but finished second. Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton, winner a record-equalling six times in Spain, qualified fifth for Ferrari and ahead of team mate Charles Leclerc for the second time this season. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli was sixth fastest, with Leclerc seventh after doing only one flying lap because he had run out of tyres. "I think we were one of the only cars to have only four new sets of softs for the whole of qualifying. All the others around us had five new softs," said the Monegasque. "I sacrificed today, I hope it will pay off tomorrow. If it doesn't, it's my fault." Alpine's Pierre Gasly will start eighth and Isack Hadjar ninth for Racing Bulls. McLaren team boss Andrea Stella said the team had not been at all concerned by the flexi-wing saga, which rivals had hoped might slow the defending constructors' champions. "It entertained to have this kind of debate but our simulations said everything was very small. We weren't concerned from this point of view," the Italian told Sky Sports television. Spain's double world champion Fernando Alonso, yet to score a point this season, completed the top 10 for Aston Martin in front of his home crowd. Verstappen's team mate Yuki Tsunoda struggled again and qualified last with Alpine's Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto also on the back row after a problem pulling away from the pit lane exit at the end of the opening phase. Sauber's Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto did well to qualify 12th. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Christian Radnedge and Toby Davis)
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Automotive
- Glasgow Times
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. 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'. Lando Norris will start on the front row of the grid (Bradley Collyer/PA) 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.
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Automotive
- Glasgow Times
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. 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. Lando Norris will start on the front row of the grid (Bradley Collyer/PA) 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.'
