Oscar Piastri led a brilliant McLaren one-two in Spain as Verstappen cracked under pressure and Hülkenberg claimed a stunning fifth.
It’s judgment time for the ninth race of the 2025 F1 season, the Spanish Grand Prix. After 307 kilometers ahead for the drivers, there will be a new winner, and the triple-header will come to an end.
Since 2016, no one other than Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton has won this round of the calendar. The Dutchman claimed his first victory for Red Bull here in 2016, before the Brit won five consecutive editions from 2017 to 2021. Since 2022, the Red Bull driver has remained unbeaten.
But that may change today, as both McLaren F1 drivers locked out the front row, with Oscar Piastri taking pole ahead of Lando Norris. Verstappen starts third alongside George Russell. Hamilton lines up fifth, followed by Andrea Kimi Antonelli, then Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly.
Isack Hadjar continues his strong performances with ninth place, alongside the first local hero, Fernando Alonso. Alex Albon and Gabriel Bortoleto will have chances to score points, starting just outside the top 10, ahead of Liam Lawson and Oliver Bearman. Nico Hülkenberg and Esteban Ocon share the eighth row, ahead of Carlos Sainz and Franco Colapinto.
14:25 – Yuki Tsunoda will start from the pit lane after Red Bull changed several parts, including a rear wing that differs in specification from the one used earlier in the weekend.
14:29 – Only 19 drivers will start the race, as Lance Stroll has withdrawn and is due for wrist surgery. He will need rest that may sideline him for several weeks.
14:33 – Aston Martin F1 explained just over an hour before the race why Stroll took part in qualifying, preventing a substitute driver from being named for the second seat.
14:37 – Asked about McLaren’s performance in Barcelona, Rob Marshall, chief designer of the MCL39, said he was not concerned: “What performance change? We came with essentially the same wing. There’s been a lot of noise around it, but there has been no loss of performance.”
14:41 – Max Verstappen appears torn between the long race ahead and the need to get past the McLarens at Turn 1: “I think it’s time to shine in Turn 1. It’ll be three wide for the pictures. Why not? I don’t know. Honestly, looking at the pace, it’s going to be tough. But it’s not just about the start and Turn 1. You have to manage the tyres. It’s a long race. A lot can happen. I’ll try to maximize what I’ve got.”
14:46 – Stroll receives a warning for missing the weigh-in during qualifying and won’t be penalized upon return. Aston Martin receives an official warning for concealing Stroll’s medical condition from the FIA.
14:49 – Air temperature is 30 degrees Celsius, track temperature is 50, and there’s a 10% chance of rain.
14:53 – Pirelli predicts two stops regardless of tyre choices. The Italian manufacturer suggests soft-medium-soft, soft-medium-hard, soft-medium-medium, and medium-hard-soft as the most relevant strategies.
14:58 – All drivers start on soft tyres, except for Tsunoda, who starts from the pit lane.
Start – Excellent getaway for Piastri, weaker for Norris, and Verstappen lunges alongside Norris while Russell and others cut the chicane, allowing Hamilton to move into fourth.
Lap 1 – Leclerc overtakes Russell, followed by Antonelli, Gasly, and Hadjar. Alonso is tenth ahead of Hülkenberg and Bortoleto.
Lap 2 – Norris is already 1.5 seconds behind Verstappen, who is putting pressure on Piastri. Hülkenberg overtakes Alonso for tenth.
Lap 3 – Verstappen sets the fastest lap at 1:20.083 and increases the pressure on Piastri, while Norris slips to two seconds behind. Russell pushes Leclerc, as does Hülkenberg behind Hadjar.
Lap 4 – Piastri sets the fastest lap at 1:19.866, pulling 1.4 seconds ahead of Verstappen. Norris holds steady. Russell complains about the Ferraris moving under braking, but his engineer tells him to focus.
Lap 5 – Piastri continues to extend his lead to two seconds. Norris sits 1.6 behind Verstappen, and the Ferraris trail at one-second intervals. Gasly leads a tight midfield group stretching back to Tsunoda. The Williams drivers are struggling, sitting 14th and 17th.
Lap 6 – The gap grows again, with Piastri now 2.9 seconds clear. Norris is 1.2 behind Verstappen. Hamilton is 1.9 behind and under pressure from Leclerc. Mercedes is off the pace. Replay shows Albon’s wing is damaged from the start.
Lap 7 – The Williams driver pits, returns last on fresh softs. Norris is told to push now that his tyres are up to temperature.
Lap 8 – Piastri’s lead grows to three seconds, and Norris stays 1.2 behind Verstappen. Hamilton is falling back while Leclerc stays close. Russell catches up.
Lap 9 – Leclerc draws alongside Hamilton but doesn’t pass. Bearman and Tsunoda pit. It’s surprising from Tsunoda, whose mediums only lasted nine laps—well below expectations.
Lap 10 – Piastri leads by 3.6 seconds. Norris is back within a second of Verstappen. Ferrari instructs their drivers to swap places after losing nearly two seconds to Norris in a lap. Hülkenberg and Sainz pit. A problem on Sainz’s left front tyre drops him to last, nine seconds behind Albon.
Lap 11 – Norris is six-tenths behind Verstappen, while Piastri extends his lead. Gasly is the next to pit and switches to softs. Tsunoda, on fresh soft tyres, sets the fastest lap.
Lap 12 – Norris is close to Verstappen but does not attempt a pass yet. The Red Bull driver complains of “no grip compared to the McLarens.” Piastri reports difficulties with rear tyres.
Lap 13 – Norris gets past Verstappen and is now 4.3 seconds behind Piastri. The Dutchman remains in his slipstream. Alonso makes a mistake and runs through the gravel, allowing Bortoleto to overtake.
Lap 14 – Norris gains half a second on Piastri and extends his gap over Verstappen to 1.5 seconds. Verstappen pits, leaving Ferrari and Mercedes behind the McLarens. He returns eighth on soft tyres.
Lap 15 – The McLaren drivers do not respond to Verstappen’s stop, aiming to stretch their first stint. Verstappen is immediately quicker, but the strategies begin to diverge. Colapinto pits.
Lap 16 – Piastri and Norris lap in 1:20.8 and 1:20.9, while Verstappen sets the fastest time with a 1:19.630. He overtakes Hadjar. Alonso pits and rejoins last on medium tyres.
Lap 17 – The McLarens post 1:20.6 laps while Verstappen lowers the fastest lap to 1:19.450. Hamilton pits and rejoins ninth on mediums. Leclerc is told to push flat out and replies, “I already am.” Verstappen overtakes Antonelli.
Lap 18 – Leclerc also pits and returns seventh on mediums. The McLarens continue at 1:20.8 while Verstappen clocks 1:20.0. He is 22 seconds behind the leader.
Lap 19 – Hamilton questions the early stop, and his engineer explains it was to cover a potential undercut by Mercedes. Verstappen overtakes Russell to claim third place.
Lap 20 – A five-second gap separates the McLarens. Hadjar and Bortoleto pit and rejoin 11th and last, respectively, on mediums.
Lap 21 – Piastri is asked if he can stretch to lap 25. He says it’s difficult but possible. Russell pits and rejoins behind both Ferraris.
Lap 22 – Norris pits and returns third, 10 seconds behind Verstappen on medium tyres. McLaren aims for two stops, while Verstappen may go for three or finish on softer tyres. Antonelli pits and rejoins eighth.
Lap 23 – Piastri pits due to deteriorating lap times. He rejoins second on mediums. Russell sets the fastest lap at 1:19.163 and gains nearly a second per lap on Hamilton.
Lap 24 – Verstappen leads by 5.8 seconds over Piastri and 10.1 over Norris, who is now lapping faster. Verstappen’s mediums will inevitably degrade.
Lap 25 – The top three are now lapping at similar times. Leclerc sets the fastest lap. Tsunoda pits again for softs, indicating a three-stop strategy. Albon damages his front wing again in contact with Lawson, letting Alonso pass.
Lap 26 – Verstappen leads by five seconds over Piastri and 9.5 over Norris. Leclerc trails Norris by 4.5.
Lap 27 – Albon retires after yet another pit stop. Hadjar overtakes Gasly around the outside to move up to eighth.
Lap 28 – Verstappen now loses a second per lap to the McLarens, who close to within 3.5 and 8.3 seconds. Leclerc maintains a 4.6-second gap to Norris. Stewards investigate Lawson and Albon’s collision.
Lap 29 – Piastri takes another six-tenths out of Verstappen’s lead, and Norris trims another nine-tenths.
Lap 30 – Verstappen makes his second stop and returns fourth on mediums. He immediately sets the best second sector. The stewards dismiss the Lawson–Albon case.
Lap 31 – Norris’s engineer confirms Verstappen will do three stops and reassures his driver that McLaren holds the strategic advantage. Hamilton complains of no grip and is significantly slower than his rivals.
Lap 32 – Piastri leads Norris by 5.5 seconds, while Leclerc remains 4.6 back. Verstappen sets the fastest lap at 1:18.216. Lawson hits Bearman, his second questionable move. Gasly pits and drops to 17th.
Lap 33 – Verstappen keeps clawing back 1.5 seconds per lap on the McLarens but will inevitably have to stop again. He complains of having “no clutch when shifting gears.” When reminded of his “1972 gearbox” joke from last week, engineer Lambiase asks if it’s now from 1973. Verstappen replies, “Maybe 1974.”
Lap 34 – At halfway, Verstappen continues to close the gap to the leaders, now trailing Piastri by 11 seconds and Norris by seven.
Lap 35 – Norris’s engineer tells him, “Verstappen is in our race; keep finding pace.” Verstappen is in Leclerc’s slipstream.
Lap 36 – Verstappen passes Leclerc and closes to within 5.8 of Norris. Will Joseph tells Norris he can push more in Turns 3 and 9, but the Brit reports understeer and tyre graining.
Lap 37 – Piastri holds a 3.3-second lead over Norris and nine over Verstappen. All three still owe a stop. Leclerc is 2.5 seconds behind Verstappen. Russell gains on Hamilton, with Antonelli, Hadjar, Hülkenberg and Lawson temporarily filling out the top 10 after Bearman pits.
Lap 38 – Piastri continues losing time, and Norris closes to 2.8 seconds. Verstappen is 5.4 behind Norris.
Lap 39 – Piastri finds pace again, holding 2.9 seconds over Norris, while Verstappen trails the Brit by five seconds.
Lap 40 – Norris sets his personal best and is the fastest on track. He cuts the gap to 2.4 seconds and maintains a 4.9-second buffer to Verstappen. Verstappen’s engineer says McLaren has realized he’s a threat and that the race is far from over.
Lap 41 – Piastri leads by 2.7 seconds. Norris loses time to Verstappen, now 4.3 seconds ahead. Leclerc pits and rejoins sixth on mediums. Colapinto also pits and returns on softs, likely requiring another stop.
Lap 42 – Russell pits and rejoins behind Antonelli, six seconds behind the Italian. Piastri maintains a 2.6-second lead over Norris, who is four seconds clear of Verstappen.
Lap 43 – The leading trio are lapping at similar pace. Russell is expected to soon reclaim the fastest lap with two purple sectors on his out lap. Alonso pits and returns in 17th place on soft tyres.
Lap 44 – The gaps between the top three remain stable. Ocon pits and rejoins 17th.
Lap 45 – Piastri now leads Norris by 3.4 seconds, with Norris still holding 4.2 seconds over Verstappen. The leading trio are in a league of their own, with Hamilton already 21 seconds adrift. Lawson and Tsunoda pit. Both drivers fit softs—Tsunoda is now on his third set of red-walled tyres.
Lap 46 – Piastri increases his lead to 4.8 seconds over Norris, who maintains a 4.2-second advantage over Verstappen. Russell overtakes Antonelli, who is on a different strategy. Hülkenberg also pits and rejoins tenth on new softs.
Lap 47 – Piastri continues to extend his lead to 5.3 seconds. Verstappen loses time to Norris, who now has a 4.4-second buffer. Piastri holds nearly a 10-second gap to Verstappen. Hamilton pits and rejoins seventh on soft tyres.
Lap 48 – Verstappen pits again and rejoins 26 seconds behind Norris and 32 behind Piastri, now on softs. Tsunoda sets the fastest lap at 1:17.998. Bortoleto lets Hülkenberg pass.
Lap 49 – Norris also pits and rejoins on softs, just one second ahead of Verstappen, whose tyres are already warm. Hadjar pits and returns eighth on softs.
Lap 50 – As expected, Piastri pits as well and rejoins with a 5.2-second lead over the two behind him, on softs. Verstappen immediately clocks the fastest lap with a 1:17.141. Antonelli pits and comes back out in seventh.
Lap 51 – Norris uses his warm tyres to cut the gap to Piastri to 2.8 seconds, though the Australian is now in traffic. Verstappen drops out of DRS range from Norris, sitting 1.1 seconds behind. Verstappen reports his car is “broken” in terms of handling on the softs.
Lap 52 – Piastri leads Norris by 2.3 seconds, with Norris 1.6 seconds ahead of Verstappen. Leclerc is 12 seconds behind and leads Russell by five, with Russell nine seconds clear of Hamilton. Farther back, Antonelli, Hadjar, Hülkenberg, and Gasly round out the top 10. Norris is held up by Lawson, who continues to make erratic moves all race.
Lap 53 – Piastri increases the gap to Norris to 2.5 seconds, with Norris still 1.4 ahead of Verstappen. “Fucking idiots,” says Verstappen on the radio, even though Bearman delayed him far less than Lawson delayed Norris.
Lap 54 – The gap between the McLarens grows to three seconds, with Verstappen now two seconds behind Norris.
Lap 55 – The gaps up front are increasing. Piastri leads by 3.4 seconds, Norris leads Verstappen by 2.4. Antonelli goes off at Turn 10 and does not attempt to move his car. A problem with the Mercedes? The safety car is deployed.
Lap 56 – All three leaders pit for fresh tyres. McLaren executes a perfect double stop for softs, while Verstappen fits hard tyres. Leclerc, Russell, Hamilton, and Hadjar also pit. Verstappen questions the strategy: “What the fuck is this? What are these tyres?” Lambiase replies they had no choice. Replay confirms Antonelli’s engine failure.
Lap 57 – Piastri leads from Norris, Verstappen, Leclerc, Russell, Hamilton, and Hadjar— all recently stopped. Verstappen is on hards; the others are on softs. Hülkenberg pits, as Gasly is still some distance back, and returns on fresh softs.
Lap 58 – Lawson is tenth with 12-lap-old softs, and Ocon is 11th on 13-lap-old mediums. Bortoleto is 12th on seven-lap-old softs. Lapped drivers are now allowed to unlap themselves.
Lap 59 – The race director maintains the status quo to allow the lapped cars to catch back up.
Lap 60 – “They love wasting laps,” complains Hamilton. The safety car will come in at the end of this lap.
Lap 61 – Verstappen slides before the restart and gets passed by Leclerc. He runs off track after contact with Russell and complains on the radio: “Charles hit me on the straight.”
Lap 62 – Piastri sets the fastest lap at 1:15.743. The McLaren gap is one second. Leclerc is three seconds back, Verstappen 1.1 behind him, and Russell on his tail.
Lap 63 – The gap between the McLarens increases to 1.4 seconds. Leclerc is 3.2 seconds back. Verstappen holds fourth but is under investigation for contact with Russell. Hülkenberg overtakes Hadjar.
Lap 64 – The gap between the McLarens remains stable as they extend their lead over Leclerc, now 4.5 seconds back. Verstappen is eight-tenths ahead of Russell, who attacks. Lambiase instructs Verstappen to let Russell through, but Verstappen refuses, yells on the radio, and nearly collides with the Mercedes. Verstappen shows his worst side under pressure once again. Russell overtakes at the end of the lap.
Lap 65 – Hülkenberg overtakes Hamilton and is just 1.3 seconds behind Verstappen, lapping at the same pace as Leclerc and Russell. Verstappen is under investigation for causing a collision—likely a deliberate one—with Russell.
Final Lap – The McLarens are on course for a one-two finish, with Leclerc poised for the final podium spot. Verstappen is close to Russell and makes a final attempt to overtake.
Finish – Oscar Piastri wins ahead of Lando Norris! Leclerc finishes third, ahead of Russell and Verstappen. However, Verstappen receives a 10-second penalty for hitting Russell and drops to tenth.
As a result, Hülkenberg scores a sensational fifth place. Hamilton finishes sixth, followed by Hadjar, Gasly, and Alonso, who finally scores his first points with two.
Lawson is 11th, followed by Bortoleto, Tsunoda, Sainz, Colapinto, Ocon, and Bearman.
| Pos. | Driver | Gap | Stop |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Oscar Piastri | 66 Laps – 1h33m10.440s | 3 |
| 02 | Lando Norris | +2.471 | 3 |
| 03 | Charles Leclerc | +10.455 | 3 |
| 04 | George Russell | +11.359 | 3 |
| 05 | Nico Hülkenberg | +13.648 | 3 |
| 06 | Lewis Hamilton | +15.508 | 3 |
| 07 | Isack Hadjar | +16.022 | 3 |
| 08 | Pierre Gasly | +17.882 | 3 |
| 09 | Fernando Alonso | +21.564 | 3 |
| 10 | Max Verstappen | +21.826 | 4 |
| 11 | Liam Lawson | +25.532 | 2 |
| 12 | Gabriel Bortoleto | +25.996 | 2 |
| 13 | Yuki Tsunoda | +28.822 | 4 |
| 14 | Carlos Sainz | +29.309 | 3 |
| 15 | Franco Colapinto | +31.381 | 3 |
| 16 | Esteban Ocon | +32.197 | 2 |
| 17 | Oliver Bearman | +37.065 | 3 |
| 18 | Kimi Antonelli | DNF | 2 |
| 19 | Alex Albon | DNF | 3 |
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