MONTMELO, Spain — The McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris made waves at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, finishing in first and second place, respectively. Their dominant performance hints at a brewing intra-team rivalry for superiority, especially following a misstep by Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team.
Verstappen was in contention until the final laps when a safety car incident compromised his tire strategy. This allowed Charles Leclerc and George Russell to overtake him swiftly. An unfortunate collision with Russell’s Mercedes further compounded Verstappen’s woes, resulting in a 10-second penalty that relegated him to a 10th-place finish.
Tensions flared post-race, with Russell accusing Verstappen of intentional aggression, leading to a sharp retort from Verstappen, who dismissed the incident nonchalantly.
Piastri’s win was executed with calmness from pole position, halting Verstappen’s winning streak at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. His lead in the championship now stands at 186 points, edging Norris by 10, while Verstappen lags behind at 49 points.
Despite this setback, Verstappen emphasized he never considered himself in the championship hunt and hinted at focusing on future rules changes in 2026, suggesting McLaren’s current form is the benchmark to beat.
In contrast, Piastri’s victory marks a significant milestone in his burgeoning career. The 24-year-old Australian expressed joy over his season, particularly this weekend’s outing, which saw him take his fifth win in nine races, further consolidating McLaren’s dominance with their third one-two finish of the season.
For Norris, the race was a testament to resilience. Despite losing second position to Verstappen at the start, he regained it on lap 12, capitalizing on Verstappen’s struggles with tire grip to secure a clean sweep for McLaren.
Leclerc secured third place, outperforming his new Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton, who had another subpar race. Hamilton lamented the lack of balance in his car, a theme that has plagued his transition from Mercedes to Ferrari as he continues to chase a podium finish.
Meanwhile, Nico Hulkenberg, racing for Sauber, delivered a standout performance, climbing from a 15th-place start to finish fifth. Hulkenberg’s tenacity on the track caught the attention of many, earning him accolades from fellow racers.
Rookie Isack Hadjar marked a strong seventh-place finish for Racing Bulls, while Pierre Gasly from Alpine and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, who delighted local fans by finishing ninth, rounded out the top rankings. Alonso’s teammate, Lance Stroll, was forced to retire due to hand and wrist pain.
Verstappen’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda, enduring a difficult qualifying run, began at the back of the grid and managed to claw his way to 13th. Meanwhile, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli suffered issues that saw him land in the gravel and brought out the late yellow flag and safety car.
The race was attended by numerous sports celebrities, including members of England’s soccer squad and coach Thomas Tuchel. Famous faces like Jude Bellingham and FIFA president Gianni Infantino graced the event, creating a festive atmosphere in Barcelona.
Attention now turns to the Canadian Grand Prix, set to take place in two weeks.