Piatri in pole position: Who stops him at the Grand Prix of Spain?

Piatri in pole position: Who stops him at the Grand Prix of Spain?

Barcelona, Spanien - On June 1, 2025, the ninth Grand Prix of the current Formula 1 season will take place on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Oscar Piatri is currently leading the World Championship with a total of 161 points, followed by his McLaren teammate Lando Norris, which is only three points behind him. Max Verstappen from Red Bull Racing is also in striking distance with 136 points. The previous races have already offered exciting turns, and with four victories this season Piatri shows an impressive form.

in qualifying Piatri was able to assert the pole position and achieved a time that was 0.209 seconds faster than that of his teammate Norris. Verstappen and George Russell shared third place with a time that was 0.302 seconds behind Piatri. The strong performance of McLaren gives the team a clear advantage, especially since the new regulations on starter front wings have no negative impact on their pace, says Russell.

qualifying results and lists

The starting line -up for the Grand Prix of Spain shows the strength of McLaren. While Piatri and Norris take the first row, Verstappen follows in third place. The other places are occupied by Mercedes driver George Russell, who starts fourth, and Lewis Hamilton from Ferrari, who becomes fifth. Yuki Tsunoda will take the race from the last position, which represents his worst qualification of the season so far. Carlos Sainz, on the other hand, starts as the 18th and has to be satisfied with his worst result of the season.

season and rules

The 2025 season brings with it some changes in Formula 1. The new regulations on the minimum weight of the driver were tightened with an increase of 798 kg to 800 kg. At high temperatures, it can even be increased to up to 805 kg. The structure of the season has also changed: six sprints are planned for 2025, with some of the traditional racetracks such as Miami and Spa being again in focus.

In addition, on October 17, 2024, the FIA decided to abolish the bonus point for the fastest round and to expand the mandatory Young Driver training for the drivers to two. With regard to the driver change, Lewis Hamilton will switch to Ferrari in 2025 while Carlos Sainz is moving to Williams. Andrea Kimi Antonelli will compete with the debut of his career as Hamilton's successor at Mercedes.

With an exciting race in Barcelona, which is imminent, it remains to be seen whether Piatri can defend his leadership in the World Cup or whether to move and challenge him. In a season that already offers many surprises, the eyes of the Formula 1 fans are firmly aimed at the results.