Oscar Piastri topped Spanish GP FP2 for McLaren, in a session defined by heat, tyre data and incredibly close gaps.
The second free practice session of the Spanish Grand Prix unfolded under scorching sun, with 31°C in the air and track temperatures peaking at 48°C. In these extreme conditions, teams continued fine-tuning their setups while evaluating tyre behaviour ahead of Sunday’s race.
McLaren solid, Piastri stands out
After Lando Norris in FP1, it was his teammate Oscar Piastri who stood out in this session, setting the fastest time of 1:12.760 on soft tyres. McLaren thus confirms its strong form on this circuit, within a provisional pecking order that remains very tight.
George Russell was also very sharp, finishing second just 0.286 seconds behind, just ahead of Max Verstappen and Norris, who posted identical lap times down to the thousandth (1:13.070). Charles Leclerc, in fifth, already trails by half a second, highlighting an extremely close field — less than seven-tenths separate fifth place from seventeenth.
Antonelli impresses, Hamilton struggles
Andrea Kimi Antonelli continues to make a strong impression. The young Mercedes driver finished sixth, ahead of Fernando Alonso, Pierre Gasly and the Racing Bulls of Lawson and Hadjar. Lewis Hamilton, on the other hand, had a difficult session, complaining of an “undriveable” car and setting only the 11th fastest time.
Incidents, adjustments and strategies developing
Among the notable incidents, Oliver Bearman made an early error with a high-speed spin. Lance Stroll, highly critical of his car, had to change his seat during the session. Hadjar was impeded by Colapinto, an incident reported to the stewards.
The end of the session saw longer runs, often on soft tyres, indicating that all three Pirelli compounds could be in play on Sunday. Verstappen, Norris, Albon and Stroll even recorded identical times, once again highlighting the field’s extreme competitiveness.
Tight classification and questions ahead
Gaps remain minimal and the standings highly dynamic. While McLaren seems well prepared, Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari are still very much in the mix. Williams disappointed in 14th and 15th positions, while Haas trailed at the back, ahead of only Franco Colapinto.
With the technical directive on front wing flexibility now in effect, teams will continue their analysis on Saturday to fine-tune setups and refine race strategies. The Spanish Grand Prix is shaping up to be more unpredictable than ever.
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes MCL39 | 1:12.760 | 28 |
| 02 | George Russell | Mercedes W16 | 1:13.046 | 32 |
| 03 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Honda RBPT RB21 | 1:13.070 | 30 |
| 04 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes MCL39 | 1:13.070 | 31 |
| 05 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari SF-25 | 1:13.260 | 32 |
| 06 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes W16 | 1:13.298 | 31 |
| 07 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Mercedes AMR25 | 1:13.301 | 28 |
| 08 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault A525 | 1:13.385 | 30 |
| 09 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT VCARB 02 | 1:13.400 | 29 |
| 10 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT VCARB 02 | 1:13.494 | 29 |
| 11 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari SF-25 | 1:13.533 | 29 |
| 12 | Nico Hülkenberg | Stake F1 Kick Sauber C45 | 1:13.592 | 30 |
| 13 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Honda RBPT RB21 | 1:13.683 | 31 |
| 14 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes FW47 | 1:13.721 | 34 |
| 15 | Alex Albon | Williams Mercedes FW47 | 1:13.839 | 32 |
| 16 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Mercedes AMR25 | 1:13.859 | 17 |
| 17 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Stake F1 Kick Sauber C45 | 1:13.959 | 27 |
| 18 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari VF-25 | 1:14.005 | 30 |
| 19 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari VF-25 | 1:14.126 | 20 |
| 20 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine Renault A525 | 1:14.303 | 31 |
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