The limited flexibility directive for front wings, implemented from this Spanish Grand Prix, has not altered the balance of power on the grid. McLaren remains the strongest in qualifications. Oscar Piastri will start in pole position ahead of Lando Norris, a crucial setup in Barcelona.
After spending a week wracking their brains on how to spice up the Monaco Grand Prix, it might be time to consider how to animate the Spanish one. The race hasn’t started yet, but it was outlined yesterday in qualifications, on a track as hot as lava, which wasn’t even cooled down by the suddenly dark sky.
The identikit of the suspect (we’re talking about the future winner here) has been established, and it bears a striking resemblance to a McLaren driver, with a preference for Oscar Piastri and his neatly arranged locks. It’s early to place bets on who will hoist the trophy, but at the same time, this is the story of this GP in Barcelona, which in 91% of its 34 editions, has been won by a competitor from the front row. And who has preempted the first two places? Of course, it’s the McLarens. Piastri ahead of Lando Norris, the refrain is also starting to be sung automatically.
With his fourth pole of the season, the Australian now has five qualification sessions finished ahead of his British teammate. This corrects the anomaly from Monaco: Norris has started to make small blunders in his fast laps. Not enough to be overtaken by a Mercedes or a Ferrari, but enough to be blown away by Piastri, who set the record straight by dominating the least close Q3 of the year (2 tenths ahead of the 2nd and 7 tenths ahead of the 10th).
Just like the mandatory double stop in Monaco, the directive on the limited flexibility of the front wings does not seem to change the balance of power on the grid. Neither in the ranking nor in the car, where Piastri says he drives as before. “It’s not more difficult. We had the same problems as usual, nothing new,” affirmed the Championship leader.
Max Verstappen
“It will be difficult to have a real battle. But that doesn’t mean we’re not going to try.”
The McLarens are where they promised to be in the warm conditions they love. If the temperatures are a little more mild on Sunday, the atmosphere will remain summery, with no tangible risk of rain, and there’s no reason for the MCL39s to have less fun. Max Verstappen knows this and he refrained from making plans on the papaya comets. “I didn’t expect to be closer to them,” admitted the four-time world champion. “And if we look at today’s performance, it will be difficult to have a real battle. But that doesn’t mean we’re not going to try.”
“We must not miss the start”: despite his pole in Barcelona, Oscar Piastri is wary of his teammate Lando Norris
The Dutchman even suggested the moment when he would take action. Therefore, we must watch the start closely, and especially the arrival of the single-seaters at the first bottleneck, on the right after a long launch ramp. “I believe that turn 1 will be the moment to shine,” Verstappen announced. “Prepare the photo-finish.” For the rest, he expects a battle with unequal weapons due to the race pace, but as he sometimes knows how to be tender under his tough airs, he allowed hope, insisting on the uncertainty of a race where tire degradation is a key factor: “We need to be good on the tires, it’s a long race, a lot can happen.”
Unexpected events do indeed occur, even in qualifying, but they end up turning in McLaren’s favor. This is how Norris benefited from a tow in Q3 from Piastri, which allowed him to start his session well. The mutual aid was not premeditated though. “I tried to follow someone and it wasn’t planned to be Oscar,” Norris recounted. “It was just a coincidence.” But apart from that, the McLarens are not set to leave much to chance.
