The key figures of Spain GP
Piastri and McLaren pull away in Barcelona, in a Grand Prix marked by tire degradation and a late safety car that ultimately led to a 10-second penalty for Max Verstappen following an incident with George Russell.
With his victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri makes a statement, closing out the first third of the season as championship leader, now 10 points ahead of Norris and 49 clear of Verstappen. All teams head to Canada knowing they must quickly find a way to halt McLaren’s pace if they hope to contend for the top spot in the championship.
On the up
The standout performer of the Spanish Grand Prix was undoubtedly Oscar Piastri. After narrowly missing out on victory in the previous two races, everything clicked in Barcelona. The Australian secured his second career hat trick, his fifth win of the season, and his eighth consecutive podium.
McLaren currently boasts the strongest race pace on the grid, and once again proved it. Norris recovered well from a poor start that Verstappen capitalized on, and held steady during the late-race safety car.
The team from Woking appears to be operating on another level. FIA’s recent crackdown on front wing flexibility doesn't seem to have affected them, as they remain the fastest on track. However, internal tensions may be brewing, as Piastri’s biggest rival is the man in the garage next door.
The home Grand Prix finally brought some joy to Fernando Alonso, who scored his first points of the season. After several unlucky races where points slipped away, the Spaniard managed to deliver a solid performance, finishing ninth. Aston Martin showed competitiveness throughout the weekend, placing in the top 10 in every session. Heading into the second half of the season, there’s a renewed sense of optimism within the team from Silverstone.
On the down: Verstappen
This time, the "letdown" label goes to the reigning World Champion. Although he added excitement to the race, his on-track behavior earned him a 10-second penalty and 3 points on his super license.
After the restart from a late safety car on lap 60, Verstappen—on hard tires—was overtaken by both Leclerc and Russell. In Russell’s attempt to pass into Turn 1, the two made contact and Max ran off-track, rejoining ahead of the Mercedes. Red Bull instructed him to give the position back to avoid a penalty. While it initially seemed like he complied, Verstappen accelerated again in Turn 5 and collided with Russell, a move many interpreted as deliberate.
The incident resulted in a 10-second time penalty and three penalty points. Now sitting on 11 super license points, Verstappen must avoid further infractions in Canada and Austria to prevent a potential race ban.
The Surprise
Nico Hülkenberg was the surprise of the weekend. In a season where Sauber has struggled, the team has shown signs of recovery in recent rounds. In Barcelona, they nailed the strategy—even amid the chaos of the final safety car. Hülkenberg’s fifth-place finish brings in ten valuable points, lifting the team away from the bottom of the Constructors’ Championship.
Consistency Award
This weekend's award for consistency goes to Charles Leclerc, who finished third despite starting seventh. It was a strong haul of points for Ferrari, who now move ahead of Red Bull in the Constructors’ standings. Although the safety car played in his favor, Leclerc didn’t miss the chance to attack Verstappen after his switch to hards. Another podium for the Monegasque—his second in a row after Monaco, and third of the season.
The Disappointment
This week’s disappointment goes to Williams. As described by their own drivers, it was a non-race for the team. Carlos (Sainz) called it his worst performance of the year. The Spaniard expressed his frustration, particularly as it came at his home Grand Prix, where he couldn't reward the thousands of fans with a better showing.
Sainz had to pit immediately to change his front wing after contact at the start involving several cars. He also suffered from engine overheating and general difficulties handling the FW47.
His teammate didn’t fare much better. Alex Albon collided with Liam Lawson, breaking his front wing and retiring on lap 29. Zero points for Williams, who now look ahead to Canada hoping for a fresh start.