The 2025 Formula 1 season hit a pivotal moment as it arrived at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the Spanish Grand Prix — the final stop in the European triple-header. Traditionally, a proving ground for upgrades, this year’s race carried added weight: a mid-season regulation tweak promised to stir the competitive order and test the adaptability of teams already locked in a fierce title battle. With temperatures rising both on and off the track, all eyes were on McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and his team-mate Lando Norris, whose resurgent Monaco win had cut the championship gap to just three points heading into Round Nine.
But there was a sense of farewell in the air, too. The Spanish Grand Prix would relocate to Madrid in 2026, trading the flowing corners of Montmeló for a brand-new 5.47km street-style circuit looping around the Ifema exhibition centre near Barajas airport. As Formula 1 looked to blend heritage with a forward-looking, fan-focused approach, the future of Barcelona on the calendar remained uncertain. For now, the iconic circuit played host to one of the most unpredictable and consequential weekends of the 2025 campaign — a race that could shape the trajectory of the title fight and mark the end of an era in Spanish motorsport.
Race Guide
Season: 2025 F1 World Championship
Race weekend: 30 May 2025 – 1 June, 2025
Race date: Sunday, 1 June, 2025
Race start time: 15:00 local time
Circuit: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
Laps: 66
Circuit length: 4.675km
2024 winner: Max Verstappen
Pole position | |||
---|---|---|---|
Driver | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | |
Time | 1:11.546 | ||
Fastest lap | |||
Driver | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | |
Time | 1:15.743 on lap 61 | ||
Podium | |||
First | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | |
Second | Lando Norris | McLaren | |
Third | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya had been a mainstay on the Formula 1 calendar since 1991, and its technical complexity continued to make it one of the sport’s most respected testing grounds. Located just outside Barcelona, the 4.657km track is a demanding blend of high-speed sweepers, long-radius corners, and a punishing final sector that was reprofiled in 2023 to favour flow and rhythm over the once-maligned stop-start chicane.
Aerodynamic efficiency remains king here. With extended high-speed corners like Turn 3 and the reworked Turns 13 and 14, teams need a car that’s not just fast in a straight line but stable through sustained lateral loads. The main overtaking opportunity remains the long DRS-assisted run into Turn 1, but positioning for a pass requires balance, grip, and tactical precision through the preceding corners. Weather rarely throws a curveball at this circuit — with no wet Spanish Grand Prix (as of writing) this century, the 2025 weekend was expected to follow suit with dry, sun-soaked conditions and air temperatures hovering around 27°C.
Circuit stats
The 2025 Spanish Grand Prix marked the 55th running of one of Formula 1’s most historic events — a race with deep roots and a shifting identity across decades. Long before settling at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in 1991, the Spanish GP toured the country’s iconic circuits, from the leafy boulevards of Montjuïc Park and Pedralbes in Barcelona to the twisty confines of Madrid’s Jarama and the southern sunshine of Jerez. Spain has also played host to seven European Grands Prix — two in Jerez and five on the Valencia street circuit — underscoring its long-standing role in shaping F1’s European summer calendar. As the sport prepared to shift the Spanish Grand Prix to a new venue in Madrid for 2026, this weekend served as both a celebration of the event’s legacy and a signpost toward its evolving future.
When it comes to dominance in Spain, two names tower above the rest: Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton. Before the 2025 race both had secured six Spanish Grand Prix victories. Schumacher edged ahead in total wins on Spanish soil thanks to an additional European GP triumph at Jerez in 1994. He also held the record for the most pole positions (7), while both he and Hamilton shared the highest number of podium finishes (12). Ferrari, too, has left an indelible mark with 12 Spanish GP victories, 14 poles, and 38 podiums, more than any other team. The race has also been the launchpad for breakthrough moments, delivering maiden F1 wins for legends and surprise stars alike — including Niki Lauda (1974), Jochen Mass (1975), Pastor Maldonado (2012), and Max Verstappen in 2016, as of this weeekend, who became the youngest-ever Grand Prix winner that day.
Weekend schedule
Date | Session | Local Time |
---|---|---|
30 May 2025 | Free Practice 1 (FP1) | 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm local time |
30 May 2025 | Free Practice 2 (FP2) | 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm local time |
31 May 2025 | Free Practice 3 (FP3) | 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm local time |
31 May 2025 | Qualifying | 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm local time |
1 June 2025 | Race | 3:00 pm local time |
In Saturday qualifying, Oscar Piastri delivered a stunning final-lap effort to take pole for the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, leading a McLaren 1-2 ahead of Lando Norris with a time of 1:11.546. Max Verstappen and George Russell matched times for the second row, with Verstappen getting P3 by setting his lap earlier. Lewis Hamilton took fifth ahead of rookie Kimi Antonelli, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc could only manage seventh. Alpine, Racing Bulls, and Aston Martin filled out the top 10, but there were big names missing, including Carlos Sainz in P18 and Yuki Tsunoda in a disappointing P20.
Come Sunday’s race, Oscar Piastri extended his lead in the 2025 F1 World Championship with a dominant victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, leading McLaren team-mate Lando Norris in a commanding 1-2. After losing the lead to Max Verstappen during the first pit cycle, Piastri reclaimed control as the Red Bull driver switched to a three-stop strategy. A late Safety Car reshuffled the field, and while Piastri and Norris charged to the finish, Verstappen clashed twice with George Russell — the second, blatantly on purpose, earning a 10-second penalty that dropped him to P10. Charles Leclerc completed the podium for Ferrari, while Nico Hülkenberg surged from P15 to a standout fifth for Kick Sauber.
Championship background
The 2025 season had already delivered an unexpected but thrilling narrative, with McLaren emerging as the team to beat. Lando Norris’ commanding win in Monaco not only narrowed the title gap to within three points of team-mate Oscar Piastri but also cemented McLaren’s dominance at the top of the 2025 Constructors’ Championship. Piastri’s consistency, paired with Norris’ growing momentum, had created a fascinating intra-team rivalry — one that was defining the early stages of the season. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen remained within reach, sitting 25 points behind Piastri, while Mercedes’ George Russell, already 62 points adrift, faced a critical juncture in his campaign.
Yet despite McLaren’s six wins from the first eight rounds, the tide could be turning. A key technical regulation change on wing-flexing came into force in Spain, offering fresh hope to challengers like Ferrari. Team principal Frederic Vasseur openly touted the update as a potential “gamechanger” — a much-needed spark for the Scuderia after a lacklustre start to 2025. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with its blend of low-, medium-, and high-speed corners, has always been a traditional benchmark for car performance. If a team finds speed here, it often translates across the calendar — which is why this weekend could prove decisive in reshaping the competitive order for the rest of the year.
Race entries
The lineup of drivers and teams remained the same as the 2025 season’s entry list, apart from:
- A driver swap at the sister teams, Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls, where Yuki Tsunoda moved up to the parent Red Bull team and Liam Lawson headed in the opposite direction back to Racing Bulls, for round three at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix.
- Jack Doohan stepping out of the race seat at Alpine (post Miami), beginning with the following round, the 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. The team confirmed that former Williams and Alpine reserve driver, Franco Colapinto, would take his place alongside number one driver, Pierre Gasly.
Williams also confirmed that Frenchman Victor Martins would participate in an F1 race weekend for the first time by getting behind the wheel of the FW47 during Free Practice 1. He replaced Alexander Albon.
Alongside Williams, Haas announced Ryo Hirakawa would replace Esteban Ocon for first practice.
Lance Stroll took part in Qualifying at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, finishing the session in 14th place. However, just hours later, the team announced that he would not continue for the remainder of the weekend as he prepared to undergo a medical procedure due to ongoing discomfort in his hand and wrist.
Aside from these changes, all the drivers from the start of the season took to the track during FP1, FP2, FP3, Qualifying, and the Grand Prix.
Tyre choices
After the last two rounds of the season featured Pirelli’s softest compounds, the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix brought a return to the hardest trio in the range — C1 (Hard), C2 (Medium), and C3 (Soft). While the layout had remained unchanged since 2023, the tyres hadn’t: Pirelli’s latest revisions, particularly to the C2, aimed to bring performance gaps between the compounds closer together. That opened up strategic options and could make the Medium and even the Soft viable choices for longer race stints in 2025.
Barcelona’s signature right-handers, especially the high-load Turns 3, 9, and the revamped final two corners, pile on the stress — especially to the front-left tyre, which bears the brunt of the circuit’s punishment. Historically, this race had leant heavily toward a two-stop strategy, and last year’s event saw most of the field deploy all three compounds, with Softs playing a key role in the final stints. That pattern may well repeat, but with teams having less real-world testing time than ever, every bit of tyre data is precious. It’s no surprise, then, that Pirelli chose this venue for a third in-season test in less than a year — with Mercedes, Racing Bulls, and Red Bull all contributing to tyre development for 2026 on the Tuesday and Wednesday following the Grand Prix.

FIND OUT MORE
Free Practice
In FP1, Lando Norris continued his blistering form by leading first practice at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, setting a 1:13.718 to outpace Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. The session saw the debut of new front wing load regulations, prompting intense early running as teams tested setups with Pirelli’s hardest compounds. Rookies made headlines too, with F2’s Victor Martins making his weekend debut for Williams and Ollie Bearman, Liam Lawson, and Isack Hadjar impressively breaking into the top 10 on a warm and clear afternoon in Barcelona.
During FP2, Oscar Piastri led the way in second practice, posting a time of 1:12.760 to finish three-tenths clear of George Russell and ahead of Max Verstappen. In a session characterised by hot conditions, traffic disputes, and a mix of long runs and qualifying simulations, Piastri responded strongly to Norris’ earlier FP1 dominance. Norris and Verstappen recorded identical lap times, with the Red Bull placed ahead by virtue of setting it first. Behind them, Ferrari struggled for pace while Alonso, Hadjar, and Bearman all experienced traffic or off-track moments in a busy and telling FP2.
In FP3, Oscar Piastri led a McLaren one-two, setting a commanding 1:12.123 to go half a second clear of Lando Norris. The team showed no signs of struggle under the new front wing regulations, while rivals faltered—Charles Leclerc was third, over seven-tenths adrift, and Max Verstappen could manage only fifth amid handling issues. With McLaren looking untouchable and the midfield tightening up, Piastri strengthened his grip on the title fight heading into a crucial qualifying session in Barcelona.
Full Free Practice Reports
Free Practice 1 Classification
FP1 was held on 30 May 2025 from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm local time.
Pos | No | Driver | Car | Time | Gap | Laps |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:13.718 | 28 | |
2 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:14.085 | +0.367s | 17 |
3 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:14.096 | +0.378s | 28 |
4 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:14.238 | +0.520s | 30 |
5 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:14.294 | +0.576s | 27 |
6 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:14.339 | +0.621s | 27 |
7 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 1:14.597 | +0.879s | 25 |
8 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:14.605 | +0.887s | 25 |
9 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:14.643 | +0.925s | 26 |
10 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:14.746 | +1.028s | 27 |
11 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:14.751 | +1.033s | 31 |
12 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:14.786 | +1.068s | 23 |
13 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:14.798 | +1.080s | 20 |
14 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:14.865 | +1.147s | 20 |
15 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 1:14.935 | +1.217s | 25 |
16 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:15.155 | +1.437s | 22 |
17 | 50 | Ryo Hirakawa | Haas Ferrari | 1:15.298 | +1.580s | 22 |
18 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:15.369 | +1.651s | 30 |
19 | 45 | Victor Martins | Williams Mercedes | 1:15.522 | +1.804s | 26 |
20 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine Renault | 1:15.530 | +1.812s | 19 |
Free Practice 2 Classification
FP2 was held on 30 May 2025 from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm local time.
Pos | No | Driver | Car | Time | Gap | Laps |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:12.760 | 28 | |
2 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:13.046 | +0.286s | 32 |
3 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:13.070 | +0.310s | 30 |
4 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:13.070 | +0.310s | 31 |
5 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:13.260 | +0.500s | 33 |
6 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:13.298 | +0.538s | 31 |
7 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:13.301 | +0.541s | 28 |
8 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:13.385 | +0.625s | 30 |
9 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:13.400 | +0.640s | 29 |
10 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:13.494 | +0.734s | 29 |
11 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:13.533 | +0.773s | 29 |
12 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:13.592 | +0.832s | 30 |
13 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:13.683 | +0.923s | 31 |
14 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 1:13.721 | +0.961s | 34 |
15 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:13.839 | +1.079s | 32 |
16 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:13.839 | +1.079s | 17 |
17 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:13.959 | +1.199s | 27 |
18 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 1:14.005 | +1.245s | 30 |
19 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 1:14.126 | +1.366s | 20 |
20 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine Renault | 1:14.303 | +1.543s | 31 |
Free Practice 3 Classification
FP3 was held on 31 May 2025 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm local time.
Pos | No | Driver | Car | Time | Gap | Laps |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:12.387 | 13 | |
2 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:12.913 | +0.526s | 17 |
3 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:13.130 | +0.743s | 16 |
4 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:13.139 | +0.752s | 17 |
5 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:13.375 | +0.988s | 13 |
6 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:13.382 | +0.995s | 17 |
7 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:13.405 | +1.018s | 11 |
8 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:13.414 | +1.027s | 16 |
9 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:13.527 | +1.140s | 16 |
10 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:13.637 | +1.250s | 17 |
11 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:13.722 | +1.335s | 18 |
12 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:13.733 | +1.346s | 17 |
13 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 1:13.758 | +1.371s | 15 |
14 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:13.892 | +1.505s | 12 |
15 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:13.904 | +1.517s | 19 |
16 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:13.954 | +1.567s | 19 |
17 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine Renault | 1:14.085 | +1.698s | 22 |
18 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 1:14.138 | +1.751s | 13 |
19 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:14.289 | +1.902s | 5 |
20 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 1:14.460 | +2.073s | 11 |
Qualifying
Oscar Piastri continued his superb form in the 2025 F1 World Championship by taking a commanding pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix, his fourth of the season. The McLaren driver overcame an early Q3 challenge from team-mate Lando Norris, who held provisional pole after the first runs, but Piastri delivered when it counted with a stunning 1:11.546 lap. That effort secured a front-row lockout for McLaren and underlined the team’s dominance in Barcelona after topping every practice session.
Behind them, Max Verstappen put his Red Bull on the second row with a 1:11.755 — a time matched exactly by Mercedes’ George Russell, who would start fourth after setting his lap later. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton led the second half of the top 10 in fifth, ahead of rookie Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar, and local favourite Fernando Alonso completed the top 10. Among the surprise exits were Carlos Sainz, who was knocked out in Q1 and would start 18th, and Yuki Tsunoda, who endured a miserable session and qualified last.
Full Qualifying Report
Qualifying Classification
Qualifying was held on 31 May 2025 from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm local time.
Pos | No | Driver | Car | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Laps |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:12.551 | 1:11.998 | 1:11.546 | 14 |
2 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:12.799 | 1:12.056 | 1:11.755 | 15 |
3 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:12.798 | 1:12.358 | 1:11.848 | 12 |
4 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:12.806 | 1:12.407 | 1:11.848 | 12 |
5 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:13.058 | 1:12.447 | 1:12.045 | 15 |
6 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:12.815 | 1:12.585 | 1:12.111 | 18 |
7 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:13.014 | 1:12.495 | 1:12.131 | 12 |
8 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:13.081 | 1:12.611 | 1:12.199 | 18 |
9 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:13.139 | 1:12.461 | 1:12.252 | 15 |
10 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:13.102 | 1:12.523 | 1:12.284 | 14 |
11 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:13.044 | 1:12.641 | 14 | |
12 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:13.045 | 1:12.756 | 12 | |
13 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:13.039 | 1:12.763 | 12 | |
14 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:13.038 | 1:13.058 | 15 | |
15 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 1:13.074 | 1:13.315 | 15 | |
16 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:13.190 | 6 | ||
17 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 1:13.201 | 9 | ||
18 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 1:13.203 | 6 | ||
19 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine Renault | 1:13.334 | 7 | ||
20 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:13.385 | 6 |
2025 Spanish Grand Prix Starting Grid
The Grand Prix starting grid, with or without penalties, after the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix Qualifying session.
Pos | No | Driver | Car | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:11.546 |
2 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:11.755 |
3 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:11.848 |
4 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:11.848 |
5 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:12.045 |
6 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:12.111 |
7 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:12.131 |
8 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:12.199 |
9 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:12.252 |
10 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:12.284 |
11 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:12.641 |
12 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:12.756 |
13 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:12.763 |
14 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:13.058 |
14 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 1:13.315 |
15 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:13.190 |
16 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 1:13.201 |
17 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 1:13.203 |
18 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine Renault | 1:13.334 |
19 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:13.385 |
Note – Stroll withdrawn due to injury. Tsunoda required to start from the pit lane after car was modified under Parc Ferme conditions. |
What happened in the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix?
Oscar Piastri delivered another flawless performance in Barcelona to claim his fifth win of the 2025 F1 World Championship season, extending his lead at the top of the standings with a commanding drive in the Spanish Grand Prix. McLaren completed a sensational 1-2 with Lando Norris following his team-mate home, but the race will also be remembered for the late-race chaos involving Max Verstappen and George Russell — a clash that ultimately cost Verstappen a shot at the podium and handed him a 10-second penalty.
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Starting from pole, Piastri nailed the launch and led early, while Verstappen muscled past Norris into Turn 1 to take second. The Dutchman briefly led the race after jumping both McLarens during the first round of pit stops, but his early second stop dropped him behind again, hinting at an aggressive three-stop strategy. That gamble came undone when a late Safety Car — triggered by Kimi Antonelli’s stricken Mercedes — brought the field back together for a six-lap sprint to the finish.
At the restart, Piastri and Norris surged clear, but Verstappen’s podium hopes unravelled. First, he was passed by Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari. Then came two messy incidents with Russell, the second earning Verstappen a penalty after he was told to give the position back, only to blatantly collide again with the Mercedes while appearing to give the place, a red mist moment for the four-time world champion. While chaos unfolded behind, Piastri remained untroubled, taking the chequered flag in style ahead of Norris, with Leclerc completing the podium.
Russell salvaged fourth, but one of the drives of the day came from Nico Hülkenberg, who climbed from P15 to a remarkable fifth for Kick Sauber. Lewis Hamilton brought home sixth for Ferrari, followed by Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar in seventh and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in eighth. Fernando Alonso delighted the home crowd with his first points of the year in ninth, while Verstappen limped home 10th after his penalty.
Just outside the points was Liam Lawson in P11, with Kick Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto in 12th and Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda in 13th. Carlos Sainz had a forgettable home race in 14th, with Franco Colapinto rounding out the top 15. The Haas duo of Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman were the final finishers, while Antonelli and Alex Albon retired — the latter due to front wing damage. Only 19 cars started the race, after Aston Martin withdrew Lance Stroll on Saturday due to a wrist injury requiring surgery.
With McLaren flexing their muscles and Piastri showing title-winning form, the 2025 F1 World Championship headed into its next chapter with the papaya squad firmly in control — and Verstappen suddenly on the back foot.
Verstappen vs Russell: A clash, a penalty, and a controversy that could linger
As the final laps of the Spanish Grand Prix unfolded, the fight behind the leading McLarens flared into full-blown drama. With Charles Leclerc taking control of third, Max Verstappen found himself under pressure from George Russell. The Mercedes driver made a bold move into Turn 1, diving up the inside of Verstappen. The pair made light contact, forcing Verstappen wide and onto the escape road. He rejoined ahead — but not without controversy.
Red Bull quickly advised Verstappen to hand the position back, wary of a penalty for gaining an advantage off-track. Verstappen pushed back over team radio, arguing he had only taken evasive action to avoid a collision, likening it to Nico Hülkenberg’s similar Lap 1 escape. The next moments were chaotic: Verstappen appeared to lift, Russell went for the move thinking the place was being ceded — and they collided again. Russell came out ahead, but the stewards weren’t impressed with Verstappen’s role in the incident, issuing a 10-second penalty that dropped him from P5 to P10.
Whether Verstappen slowed deliberately or misjudged the situation was now a matter of interpretation — but the collision added another layer of tension to a title fight that was heating up on and off the track in the championship.
Verstappen one point away from race ban
The stewards gave their explanation for Max Verstappen’s collision with George Russell and handed the Red Bull driver two penalty points, which took him up to 11 points.
If you collect 12 points over a 12-month period then you are given a race ban. Verstappen would lose two points at the end of June at the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix.
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The stewards said: “From the radio communications, it was clear that the driver of Car 1 was asked by his team to ‘give the position back’ to Car 63 for what they perceived to be an earlier breach by Car 1 for leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage (in fact, we had later determined that we would take no further action in relation to that incident).
“The driver of Car 1 was clearly unhappy with his team’s request to give the position back. At the approach to Turn 5, Car 1 significantly reduced its speed thereby appearing to allow Car 63 to overtake.
“However, after Car 63 got ahead of Car 1 at the entry of Turn 5, Car 1 suddenly accelerated and collided with Car 63. The collision was undoubtedly caused by the actions of Car 1. We therefore imposed a 10 second time penalty on Car 1.”
2025 Spanish Grand Prix race results
The 2025 Spanish Grand Prix Race was held on 1 June 2025 at 3:00 pm local time.
Pos | No | Driver | Car | Laps | Time/retired | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 66 | 1:32:57.375 | 25 |
2 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 66 | +2.471s | 18 |
3 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 66 | +10.455s | 15 |
4 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 66 | +11.359s | 12 |
5 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 66 | +13.648s | 10 |
6 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 66 | +15.508s | 8 |
7 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 66 | +16.022s | 6 |
8 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 66 | +17.882s | 4 |
9 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 66 | +21.564s | 2 |
10 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 66 | +21.826s | 1 |
11 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 66 | +25.532s | 0 |
12 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 66 | +25.996s | 0 |
13 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 66 | +28.822s | 0 |
14 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 66 | +29.309s | 0 |
15 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine Renault | 66 | +31.381s | 0 |
16 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 66 | +32.197s | 0 |
17 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 66 | +37.065s | 0 |
NC | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 53 | DNF | 0 |
NC | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 27 | DNF | 0 |
Note – Bearman received a 10-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. Verstappen received a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision. |
2025 Spanish Grand Prix Fastest Laps
Pos | No | Driver | Car | Lap | Time of day | Time | Avg speed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 61 | 16:29:51 | 1:15.743 | 221.343 |
2 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 61 | 16:29:52 | 1:16.187 | 220.053 |
3 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 62 | 16:31:12 | 1:17.019 | 217.676 |
4 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 62 | 16:31:13 | 1:17.244 | 217.042 |
5 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 62 | 16:31:11 | 1:17.259 | 216.999 |
6 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 63 | 16:32:33 | 1:17.575 | 216.116 |
7 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 62 | 16:31:14 | 1:17.706 | 215.751 |
8 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 63 | 16:32:34 | 1:17.770 | 215.574 |
9 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 63 | 16:32:35 | 1:17.896 | 215.225 |
10 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 47 | 16:07:09 | 1:17.998 | 214.943 |
11 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 66 | 16:36:36 | 1:18.128 | 214.586 |
12 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 52 | 16:14:28 | 1:18.255 | 214.238 |
13 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 52 | 16:13:54 | 1:18.297 | 214.123 |
14 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine Renault | 42 | 16:00:44 | 1:18.353 | 213.970 |
15 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 47 | 16:07:08 | 1:18.624 | 213.232 |
16 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 63 | 16:32:41 | 1:18.907 | 212.467 |
17 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 65 | 16:35:24 | 1:19.317 | 211.369 |
18 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 62 | 16:31:19 | 1:19.424 | 211.084 |
19 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 9 | 15:16:13 | 1:20.508 | 208.242 |
2025 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings
Championship standings for Drivers’ and Teams after the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix.
2025 Post-Race F1 Drivers’ Championship Standings
Pos | Driver | Nationality | Car | PTS |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Oscar Piastri | AUS | McLaren | 186 |
2 | Lando Norris | GBR | McLaren | 176 |
3 | Max Verstappen | NED | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 137 |
4 | George Russell | GBR | Mercedes | 111 |
5 | Charles Leclerc | MON | Ferrari | 94 |
6 | Lewis Hamilton | GBR | Ferrari | 71 |
7 | Kimi Antonelli | ITA | Mercedes | 48 |
8 | Alexander Albon | THA | Williams Mercedes | 42 |
9 | Isack Hadjar | FRA | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 21 |
10 | Esteban Ocon | FRA | Haas Ferrari | 20 |
11 | Nico Hulkenberg | GER | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 16 |
12 | Lance Stroll | CAN | Aston Martin Mercedes | 14 |
13 | Carlos Sainz | ESP | Williams Mercedes | 12 |
14 | Pierre Gasly | FRA | Alpine Renualt | 11 |
15 | Yuki Tsunoda | JPN | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 10 |
16 | Oliver Bearman | GBR | Haas Ferrari | 6 |
17 | Liam Lawson | NZL | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 4 |
18 | Fernando Alonso | ESP | Aston Martin Mercedes | 2 |
19 | Gabriel Bortoleto | BRA | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 0 |
20 | Jack Doohan | AUS | Alpine Renualt | 0 |
21 | Franco Colapinto | ARG | Alpine Renualt | 0 |
2025 Post-Race F1 Constructors’ Championship Standings
Pos | Team | PTS |
---|---|---|
1 | McLaren Mercedes | 362 |
2 | Ferrari | 165 |
3 | Mercedes | 159 |
4 | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 144 |
5 | Williams Mercedes | 54 |
6 | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 28 |
7 | Haas Ferrari | 26 |
8 | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 16 |
9 | Aston Martin Mercedes | 16 |
10 | Alpine Renualt | 11 |
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