All eyes are focused on the McLarens this afternoon, but Max Verstappen is lurking. Will it be a dominant victory for the orange duo, or can the Dutchman make history again on Spanish soil?
A completely orange-colored front row. It would be surprising if one of the McLarens doesn’t win the Spanish Grand Prix. Unless history repeats itself as in 2016, when both Mercedes took each other out in the first round. A very young Max Verstappen took full advantage at the time and made Formula 1 history with his very first victory. Could he strike again today from P3? He admits himself: “The McLarens are hard to beat.”
Behind them, a fierce battle is expected between the Mercedes and Ferraris. George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Antonelli, and Charles Leclerc are on each other’s heels and will give each other little room on the Barcelona circuit. An incident is always lurking.
Standout Performer
Further back on the grid, the name of Isack Hadjar stands out again. The French rookie continues to impress and starts a commendable ninth. A new points finish for Racing Bulls is in sight. Next to him: Fernando Alonso, who will do everything to finally score his first points of the season in his home country. Can the veteran break the spell? It would be a nice boost for Aston Martin given Lance Stroll is not starting today due to an injury.
Join the Contest: How Many Points Will Alonso Score Today in Spain?
At the other end of the field, we find Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese driver is starting last and seems to be increasingly struggling to compete with the drivers around him. Rumors are already circulating that Red Bull wants to replace him with Hadjar, but whether that’s such a good idea for the young Frenchman right now is questionable…
The lights will go out this afternoon at 13:00 UTC. Then we will know whether McLaren lives up to expectations, or if Max Verstappen can once again create a Spanish miracle.
