In the final practice session ahead of the 2025 FIA Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri delivered an impressive performance to top the timesheets. With track temperatures nearing 50°C, drivers faced challenging conditions in Barcelona. Still, Piastri’s composed lap set the tone for a promising weekend for McLaren.
Piastri Sets the Benchmark in Barcelona
Oscar Piastri clocked a time of 1:12.387 in the final hour of practice, clearly outpacing teammate Lando Norris by over half a second. The session started slowly, with limited early action, but soon heated up as teams prepared for qualifying. Piastri managed a clean and consistent simulation run, avoiding the mistakes that plagued others.
McLaren Duo Impress with Strong Pace
Lando Norris had a promising start and briefly led the session, but a snap of oversteer disrupted his qualifying simulation. He was forced to abort his first run and could not recover on his second due to tire wear. Despite this, Norris secured second place, demonstrating McLaren’s strong potential for qualifying.
Leclerc, Russell, and Verstappen in Pursuit
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc showed solid pace with a best lap of 1:13.130, which placed him third. Mercedes’ George Russell and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen followed closely. Verstappen, though quick early on, ended the session nearly a second behind Piastri.
Competitive Midfield Battles
Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar took sixth place, continuing his impressive form this season. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli also stood out with a seventh-place finish, narrowly ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso. Lewis Hamilton and Liam Lawson completed the top ten.
Power and Performance Standouts
Piastri’s top speed reached over 231 km/h as he extracted maximum grip from his McLaren-Mercedes package. The session highlighted McLaren’s growing confidence in both high-speed sections and technical corners, a balance that may give them the edge on Sunday.
Key Observations Ahead of Qualifying
With both McLarens leading the charge, the team appears well-positioned for the upcoming qualifying session. Ferrari and Mercedes are not far behind, but Red Bull may need to make setup adjustments to close the gap. The competitive nature of the midfield also sets the stage for potential surprises.
Summary
Oscar Piastri’s commanding performance in the final practice session puts McLaren in a strong position going into qualifying. With Norris close behind and strong showings from Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull, the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix promises an exciting and tightly contested race weekend.
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available Formula 1 session results and is for informational purposes only.
Source: FIA
AI Assistance: Chatgpt
