Equal lap times for Norris and Verstappen; Piastri leading the pack
McLaren Tops Spanish Grand Prix Practice Sessions with Piastri and Norris
Barcelona — World championship leader Oscar Piastri set the fastest time in practice for the Spanish Grand Prix on Friday, driving for McLaren. Lando Norris, Piastri's teammate and recent Monaco winner, led in the morning session but finished fourth in the afternoon, just over three-tenths of a second behind Piastri.
The tightened front wing rules and inspections, implemented through a technical directive, raise questions about the performance of McLaren's cars. The restrictions might slow down McLaren's competitors, but it remains unclear if they will significantly impact the team's performance.
In the morning session, Norris outpaced Piastri by over half a second, finishing in first place, while Piastri took fifth. In the afternoon session, Norris closed the gap, finishing fourth, overtaken by four-time world champion Verstappen in the Red Bull and George Russell in the Mercedes. Nico Hülkenberg rounded out the top 12 in the Sauber.
With the Spanish Grand Prix set to take place on Sunday at 3:00 PM (Sky and RTL), the tight summer temperatures could influence tire wear and the balance of the cars, potentially deciding the race outcome.
In the standings, Piastri currently leads with a three-point advantage over Norris, thanks to his Monaco win last Sunday. Verstappen, the defending champion, trails in third, with a 25-point deficit to Piastri.
Though this season's front wing modifications may affect the race's dynamics, McLaren's dominance in the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, in which they secured pole position and second place in the qualifying session, suggests that the team remains competitive, even with these restrictions. McLaren's team principal, Andrea Stella, stated that the impact of the front wing changes was minimal, as the team had already tested these modifications earlier. The Spanish circuit's long corners seemed to favor McLaren's car, resulting in improved mid-corner stability.
Racing in the practice sessions for the Spanish Grand Prix, McLaren's drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, showcased their sports prowess. While Norris led in the morning practice, finishing first, Piastri secured the fastest time in the afternoon, placing first in the afternoon session and topping the overall practice timesheets for the day.
