Hamilton Strikes Back While McLaren Stuns in Spanish GP Qualifying
McLaren delivered a resounding statement of dominance at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, locking out the front row in qualifying and leaving their rivals stunned. The team’s performance at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya marked what might be their most commanding Saturday of the season so far.
In a dramatic qualifying session, Oscar Piastri stunned the field with a sensational final flying lap, snatching pole position from teammate Lando Norris by over two-tenths of a second. His time of 1:11.546 was unmatchable, capping off an intense intra-team battle as both drivers continue to fight for supremacy in the drivers’ championship. Piastri’s performance under pressure was clinical, showing his growing maturity and ability to deliver in key moments.
Max Verstappen, usually a dominant force in qualifying, found himself outclassed throughout all three sessions. The Red Bull driver finished over three-tenths behind Piastri, a deficit consistent in each part of qualifying. Though still competitive, Verstappen could only manage third on the grid, sharing the second row with George Russell, who matched his time to the thousandth of a second in a surprise boost for Mercedes.
However, the real shock came from within Red Bull’s own garage. Yuki Tsunoda had a nightmare session, finishing dead last in 20th. His struggles were apparent from the start, with the Japanese driver never looking comfortable in the car. It was a disappointing outcome for Tsunoda, who has shown flashes of brilliance earlier in the season.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton had a mixed day but ultimately delivered when it mattered. The seven-time world champion initially struggled with his Ferrari during free practice, and his difficulties continued into Q1, where he narrowly escaped elimination by finishing 11th. However, he regrouped and found some pace in Q2 and Q3, eventually securing fifth on the grid. Crucially, he outqualified teammate Charles Leclerc for only the second time this year in Grand Prix qualifying, a small but significant morale boost as he looks to regain form.
Leclerc, for his part, could only manage seventh, with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli splitting the two Ferrari drivers in sixth. Further down the grid, Pierre Gasly delivered a solid lap to put his Alpine eighth, while young guns Isack Hadjar and Fernando Alonso rounded out the top ten.
Q1 was not without chaos. A dramatic scene unfolded in the pit lane late in the session when Franco Colapinto’s Alpine stalled, causing a major traffic jam at the pit exit. The Argentine was unable to set a final flying lap and was forced to retire from the session, qualifying 19th.
Among the other Q1 eliminations were Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon, and Carlos Sainz, the latter suffering a disappointing home qualifying session in his Williams. Colapinto and Tsunoda completed the bottom five.
McLaren now heads into Sunday’s race with clear momentum, holding the front row and a potential 1-2 finish. However, with Hamilton resurging and Verstappen lurking, the race promises fireworks as the season’s title battles heat up.
