Barcelona, Spain – May 31, 2025
In an electrifying qualifying session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri snatched pole position for the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, leading a sensational front-row lockout for the team alongside teammate Lando Norris.
Piastri, who had been setting the pace through Q1 and Q2, momentarily lost the provisional pole to Norris during the initial Q3 runs. But the Australian bounced back with a blistering final lap of 1:11.546, edging out Norris by 0.209 seconds and securing his fourth pole of the season.
Top Qualifiers:
Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:11.546
Lando Norris (McLaren) – +0.209
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.302
George Russell (Mercedes) – Same time as Verstappen, classified fourth
Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +0.499
Verstappen and Russell posted identical times of 1:11.848, but the Red Bull driver took P3 by virtue of setting his lap first. Hamilton delivered Ferrari’s best performance of the day to secure fifth.
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli placed sixth, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc just behind in seventh. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar, and Spanish fan favorite Fernando Alonso completed the top ten.
Early Surprises and Exits
Carlos Sainz had a forgettable qualifying on home soil, exiting in Q1 and finishing down in 18th place. Yuki Tsunoda endured another disappointing session, ending at the bottom of the timing sheets in 20th.
Franco Colapinto’s session was compromised by a mechanical issue while queueing in the pit lane, ultimately leaving him 19th.
Midfield Battles in Q2
Williams’ Alex Albon narrowly missed out on Q3 by just 0.03s, finishing 11th. Rookie Gabriel Bortoleto impressed early but couldn’t push past 12th, while Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, and Haas’ Ollie Bearman also fell short.
Despite a solid first run, Bearman’s progress was hindered by traffic, a frustration Albon vocalized post-session, pointing fingers at the Haas driver for holding him up in the final sector.
Piastri Reflects on Turnaround
Following his pole-winning lap, Piastri shared his thoughts:
“Very happy – it’s been a great turnaround. We were struggling a bit early on, but found our pace last night. The car felt fantastic today. I’m proud of the team and the work they’ve done. To come back like this, especially after how things went here last year, is really satisfying.”
All eyes now turn to Sunday’s race, set to begin at 15:00 local time. With McLaren locking out the front row and Verstappen lurking close behind, the stage is set for a thrilling Spanish Grand Prix showdown.
