2025 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix Highlights

Oscar Piastri has solidified his championship lead with a dominant victory at the 2025 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, leading a McLaren 1-2 finish with teammate Lando Norris amid late-race drama that included a collision between Max Verstappen and George Russell.

Piastri executed a flawless start from pole position, allowing the Australian to quickly build a significant lead over Max Verstappen, who had initially passed Norris at Turn 1. Norris regained his position later in the race, only to see Verstappen leapfrog both McLarens after the first round of pit stops, briefly taking the lead.

Verstappen’s strategy of a three-stop race injected uncertainty, especially after a Safety Car was deployed in the final stages due to a mechanical issue with Kimi Antonelli. The Safety Car period prompted most frontrunners to pit again, dramatically reshuffling the race order.

Despite the chaos behind him, Piastri maintained composure during the restart, pulling away from the field in a frantic six-lap dash to claim his fifth victory of the season. This achievement not only extends his championship lead but also underscores McLaren’s resurgence as a formidable force on the grid.

Charles Leclerc secured third place for Ferrari, while George Russell finished fourth after a contentious battle with Verstappen, resulting in a collision and subsequent penalties for the Red Bull driver. Nico Hulkenberg delivered a stellar performance, climbing from P15 on the grid to finish fifth for Kick Sauber.

Isola also highlighted the tactical variety on display: “Red Bull’s decision to run a three-stop strategy added an intriguing variable. With Tsunoda starting from the pit lane, the team had nothing to lose in experimenting. For Verstappen, however, the approach was a high-risk, high-reward gamble that nearly paid off — until the Safety Car altered the script.”

Strategic Shifts and Safety Car Drama: Tyre Tactics Define Unpredictable Grand Prix

Lance Stroll was absent from the starting grid, reducing the field to 19 cars, most of whom chose the Soft compound for their opening stint. Of these, ten drivers opted for used Softs, while eight went with fresh sets. In contrast, Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda was the lone outlier, starting from the pit lane on a set of Mediums — a bold strategic move that set him apart from the outset.

The race’s complexion changed dramatically in the closing laps with the deployment of the Safety Car, triggering a flurry of additional pit stops. Most of the grid capitalised on the neutralised conditions to switch tyres, including the Red Bull duo, who ultimately stopped four times, one more than their originally planned three-stop strategy. This adjustment forced Max Verstappen onto a set of Hard tyres for his final stint, introducing a rare splash of white on a tyre usage chart otherwise dominated by red (Soft) and yellow (Medium) compounds.

The Safety Car’s timing injected a fresh layer of unpredictability, ultimately disrupting Verstappen’s carefully calculated strategy and extinguishing his podium hopes despite a strong pace that had him in close contention with the McLarens.

Looking Ahead: Testing for 2026

The action continues behind closed doors as Pirelli remains at the circuit for two days of crucial testing in preparation for the 2026 season. Teams participating include Mercedes, Red Bull Racing, and Racing Bulls.

• Tuesday will see George Russell on track for Mercedes, while Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson will test for Racing Bulls.

• Wednesday features Kimi Antonelli driving for Mercedes and Yuki Tsunoda taking the wheel of a Red Bull.

These test sessions will provide vital data for Pirelli’s ongoing tyre development program, shaping the performance envelope for the next generation of Formula 1 cars.

2025 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix Race Results

2025 Constructor Standings

Here are the team-by-team highlights:

Hear from McLaren Formula 1 drivers Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Team Principal Andrea Stella after the 2025 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix.

Oscar gets a clean start, and Lando drops to P3 behind Verstappen. Lando closes up to Verstappen and gets the pass for P2 done. The cars behind, including Verstappen, begin to take their first pit stops. Lando boxes for a set of Mediums, with Oscar doing the same one lap later. The order shakes out with Oscar in P2 and Lando in P3, both of whom are behind Verstappen. Verstappen boxes, moving Oscar and Lando up to P1 and P2. Lando and Oscar both box for Softs. On Lap 56, a Safety Car is deployed, so Lando and Oscar pit for Softs again. After the restart, Oscar retains P1 and Lando P2 until the Chequered Flag.

Lando Norris, Driver, McLaren Racing

It was a good, fun race, and for us to end this triple-header with a one-two is even better. Congrats to Oscar, he drove a very good race today. I didn’t quite have the pace to match his, but we gave it our best shot. It’s a long race, and anything could have happened in the end. We were under pressure with the Safety Car restart, but we managed it really well and kept our position. I’m happy to go back home with good points for the team.

Oscar Piastri, Driver, McLaren Racing

I’m really happy to have won today. It was a great weekend overall. The pace was really good. We could turn it on when needed. It’s been a great year so far, and this weekend’s been exactly the kind of weekend I was looking for. We executed everything we needed to when it counted, and that’s all you can ask for. The team gave me a great car once again, and I’m very proud of the work we’ve done. There was a lot of support in the grandstands, so thank you to the crowd for being there. We couldn’t have ended the triple header any better as a team.

Andrea Stella, Team Principal, McLaren Racing

We conclude this European triple-header with a strong performance in Barcelona, further confirming the MCL39’s competitiveness. Throughout the weekend, both drivers and the team were able to extract a very high level of performance from the car, which enabled us to secure this one-two today, our third of the season. The team executed the strategy and the pit stops well, making what could have been quite a tense race very smooth. We now head back to Woking to regroup and prepare for our trip to Canada in two weeks’ time.

George Russell finishes P4 after an eventful ending to the 2025 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona. Kimi Antonelli, unfortunately, had to retire from the race 11 laps from the end due to a Power Unit problem, which resulted in a loss of oil pressure.

Despite the challenges, George Russell’s resilience shone through. Kimi’s retirement from the race brought out the Safety Car, after which, with six laps to go, George was able to chase Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen ahead. George battled Verstappen in Turn One before the pair made contact at Turn 5. Verstappen was subsequently given a 10-second penalty. Having gained the place on Verstappen, George pushed hard to chase down the Ferrari of Leclerc but ran out of laps, eventually finishing P4 on the road.

Kimi was running P7 and managing his tyres well before the Power Unit issue curtailed his race. A strategic two-stop strategy was selected for the race, starting with the Softs, then moving to the Medium, and finally returning to the Softs, showcasing the team’s tactical approach to the race.

George Russell, Driver, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

We finished where we started today, and P4 was the best we could have done today. The last 10 laps saw plenty of action, but I am frustrated about my performance on lap one. I made a good start but then dropped back, and both Ferraris got ahead of me. Charles (Leclerc) was reachable today, but things got shuffled a bit with the Safety Car, and after contact with Verstappen, it was too much of an ask to track him down.

Overall, we can take away from Barcelona a sense of progress made this weekend. Finishing P4 is quite consistent with where we have been racing since the beginning of the season, so it feels good to be back in that pace-wise area after two challenging races. Unfortunately, we are still a long way from the leaders, but we are taking steps forward. We will aim to continue making progress next time in Canada.

Kimi Antonelli, Driver, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

I am disappointed with how today’s race went. It was a tricky Grand Prix, with the hot temperatures impacting the tyres. Even though we did a lot of long-run work in FP1 and FP2 on Friday, it was still a struggle to look after them and keep a decent pace. However, I still felt good in the car. I had a good pace on the Medium tyres, and I was putting in consistent lap times. It was, therefore, a shame to end the day with a DNF.

Overall, it has been a difficult triple header for us. Now, though, we have some time to reset. I am looking forward to heading to Montreal for my first Canadian Grand Prix. It’s a different track and a different tarmac here in Barcelona. We are also at the opposite end of the Pirelli range in terms of the compounds. We will take everything we have learned over the past three weeks, analyse and come back stronger in two weeks.

Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO

That was a difficult weekend for us overall. We typically struggle a lot in warmer conditions, and tyre management is our main issue when the tarmac is as hot as it was here in Barcelona. P4 for George is not where we want to be racing, but it is a better result than we thought was possible pre-race. Unfortunately, Kimi did not have the chance to score points due to a failure of his Power Unit.

We now have the time to thoroughly examine the data collected throughout the weekend and focus on unlocking the car’s full potential. We recognise that there are clear areas where we need to improve. We need to address our tyre overheating challenges. Fortunately, there is still a long way to go in the season, and we’re determined and will keep working hard to make progress with the car.

A late-race 10-second penalty demoted Oracle Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen out of the podium fight down to 10th in the 2025 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix.

Verstappen had been in the hunt for at least a podium finish for the majority of the Grand Prix. However, a late Safety Car deployment forced the Dutchman to pit for hard tyres, and his RB21 lost almost all grip. This caused him to run off track twice in the space of two corners, losing third place to Charles Leclerc and then making contact with George Russell of Mercedes. This earned him a 10-second penalty, dropping him to 10th in the final race results. Verstappen’s Oracle Red Bull Racing team-mate Yuki Tsunoda had a hard race after starting from the pit lane and could advance no further than 13th at the finish.

Max Verstappen, Driver, Red Bull Racing

It was unfortunate that the Safety Car came out, and we were unlucky to have to pit. That’s racing, though. Sometimes it works for you, and sometimes it doesn’t. The only fresh tyres that we had at the end were hards, so we made the call to change to these when everyone was on softs. Unfortunately, the hard tyres have very low grip, which was quite frustrating and made things a lot more difficult. We only had six laps so that the others could go flat out, and we struggled quite a bit. There, of course, was an opportunity to stay out on the soft tyre, but that was a call we made, and it is easy to look back in hindsight. When we entered the restart, we found ourselves in a tricky situation and relinquished the place. What happened happened, and we received a 10-second penalty. In the race, we maximised what we had, did everything we could and didn’t quite have the pace to match the McLarens. Ultimately, we have to take the positives from today. There are always things that can be improved, and we know that the three-stop was the right way to go, especially with the tyre degradation.

Yuki Tsunoda, Driver, Red Bull Racing

Until the Safety Car was deployed today, there was potential to score points. This weekend was not what we wanted, but it is what it is. It’s been up and down this week, but our pace was alright today. A pit-lane start is never ideal, but we knew we would need to try something different for the race today to try and make up some ground. We were experimenting with various configurations of the setup. It didn’t do much in the end today, but we have an idea of how to improve this in Canada. We are not where we want to be, but we will continue to work as a team and strive to remain consistent throughout the weekend.

CHRISTIAN HORNER, CEO and Team Principal

From the way the race was panning out, we elected to take a three-stop approach and committed to it pretty early on. The pace advantage and the tyre advantage that the McLarens had in a straight fight meant that we took the gamble. We took the first stop early on, and McLaren committed to a two-stop strategy. Our approach was looking like it was on track to be the quickest. We went for the potential undercut with Max, but he then used all of his soft and medium compounds. The Safety Car came out at the worst possible time for our strategy, and we had to decide between staying out on older tyres and being exposed at the restart or taking the gamble with the new set of hard tyres. Hindsight is always 20/20, but we made the best decision at the time, given the information available to us at the time. There was then contact with George that the stewards deemed an incident, resulting in a penalty. It’s something we will discuss internally and look at further. It’s a frustrating result, as it looked like it would be an easy podium for Max today. The Safety Car hurt Yuki’s race today; he would have been very close to the points. Otherwise, if you look at the trajectory, he was on pace and had a tyre advantage; he would have been in the points. It was a tough weekend; the results weren’t what he wanted, but he will be busy working with the team over the next week to make some setup improvements for Montreal.

Scuderia Ferrari HP secured its third podium of the season with a third-place finish from Charles Leclerc, achieved in the exciting final stages of the 2025 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, thanks to a Safety Car intervention and the race resuming with just six laps remaining.

The team picked up 23 points and is now in second place in the Constructors’ championship. It is the Scuderia’s 832nd podium, a 46th for Leclerc. He had sacrificed some qualifying performance to save his tyres, and that paid off today, as he was in fourth place by the final stages, having started seventh. Lewis, however, struggled after the restart, losing a place to Nico Hulkenberg.

Charles Leclerc, Driver, Scuderia Ferrari

Yesterday, I knew I was sacrificing qualifying to have a better race on Sunday, but I didn’t expect to find myself standing on the podium; I’m happy about that.

The first two stints were positive today. The last stint on the Medium was a bit trickier, but then we had the Safety Car that allowed us to fit Soft tyres again, and we took advantage of it.

We still have a lot of work to do and are not yet as fast as we want to be, but now we head home to reset and push to come back stronger in the coming races.

Lewis Hamilton, Driver, Scuderia Ferrari

Today was not what I was hoping for. I felt confident going into the race after a strong qualifying session and the car performing well. But the balance felt off throughout the race, and we lacked pace from the start.

We don’t have an explanation for it, so we’ll need to review the data and investigate any underlying issues. Congratulations to Charles. He did a great job and fully deserved the podium.

Frédéric Vasseur – Team Principal, Scuderia Ferrari

It’s always good to finish on the podium, and this result, following the one in Monaco, confirms we’re building momentum. We’ve now had three strong races in a row and have moved back up to second place in the Constructors’ championship, which is a positive step.

Today’s race was quite intense. Like most teams, we struggled to clearly understand the performance delta between the Medium and Soft tyres. In the end, we saw better pace and consistency on the Soft, which played into our hands with Charles at the end. Of course, the Safety Car also helped, as it allowed us to get ahead of Verstappen, who was on Hards. The recovery was successful, and the strategy proved effective.

Lewis also maintained a strong pace until the final stint, during which he reported some balance issues. We’ll look into it, but it was essential that we still managed to secure some points.

Since Miami, we’ve shown consistent progress, apart from qualifying in Imola. McLaren is still ahead, but we’re closing the gap step by step. We need to keep improving and stay in the fight.

The European triple-header has concluded at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with Fernando’s home race: the 2025 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix. Get the thoughts of Lance, Fernando and the team from the weekend.

Fernando secured his first points of the 2025 season after taking P9 at the Spanish Grand Prix, whilst Lance did not start after withdrawing from the race through injury.

Fernando Alonso, Driver, Aston Martin F1 Team

It’s always special racing at home, and it means a lot to score my first points of the season here in Barcelona. The support from the fans was incredible.

The car’s pace wasn’t quite where we wanted it to be, especially after feeling strong yesterday. I struggled to overtake on the straights, so I had to get quite creative at Turn Three.

I’m happy to take the points in the end, and now we’ll look to keep the momentum going as we head to Canada. We missed Lance today, and I wish him a quick recovery.

Andy Cowell, CEO & Team Principal, Aston Martin F1 Team

We are pleased to come away from this race with some hard-earned points after great battles on track by Fernando in front of his home crowd.

We were involved in some early scraps for the top ten, and we wanted to extend Fernando’s first stint on the Softs, but the tyres didn’t quite have enough left in them by the time we pitted. From then on, he fought to get back into the top ten before a well-timed Safety Car bunched up the field for a sprint finish to the end.

Fernando then showed his racing skill and overtook three cars in the remaining six laps and stayed within 10 seconds of Max [Verstappen] to finish P9.

“We’ll digest and analyse everything we’ve learnt over this busy triple-header, and we are all wishing Lance well and a speedy recovery.

Isaac Hadjar in the points again with seventh at the 2025 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix.

Hot on the heels of his best F1 result to date with sixth in Monaco the previous weekend, rookie driver Hadjar again drove a smart and controlled race to finish in seventh place and score six important points for both himself and the team. The 20-year-old now sits ninth in the Drivers’ Standings with 21 points. Liam Lawson just missed the points in the second Racing Bulls car in 11th.

Liam Lawson, Driver, VCARB F1 Team

From our side, it was a very strong race. Despite spending a lot of it in traffic, we had good speed and were overtaking cars, so it was working out. We ended up in the wrong position and missed the Safety Car line by half a second because everyone in front of us boxed. To be that close after all the work we did in the race is really unfortunate. As we look ahead to Canada, we’ll build on the positives of our great race pace. Points are always the goal.

Isack Hadjar, Driver, VCARB F1 Team

I’m pleased with today’s race. It was a strong performance and almost perfect, something the whole team can be proud of. I enjoyed the first stint, though it’s a shame Nico got us right at the end. Our strategy was perfect; the pace on the medium tyre was strong, and it helped us clear the midfield. We had some great battles on track. We made the right call to box for softs when we did. I’m confident in the car and pushing it to its limits at every race. As a team, we’re definitely heading in the right direction. I couldn’t have asked for a better triple-header, scoring points in every race.

I’m looking forward to carrying this momentum into Canada.

Laurent Mekies, Team Principal, VCARB F1 Team

The MoneyGram Haas F1 Team finished with Esteban Ocon in 16th place and Oliver Bearman in 17th place at the 2025 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, held on Sunday at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Esteban Ocon, Driver, Haas F1 Team

Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal, Haas F1 Team

Atlassian Williams Racing knew the 2025 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix was going to be a tricky weekend, but when both cars had their races compromised at the first corner, the task became even more difficult.

Starting from P11, Alex Albon was squeezed at Turn 1 and suffered front wing damage, as did Carlos Sainz from P17. Both were forced to pit early for new front wings, leaving them at the back of the pack by Lap 10.

From there, the focus shifted to recovery. Alex and Carlos aimed to climb back into contention during the opening pit cycle, but progress was tough in a tightly packed midfield. On Lap 24, Alex was forced wide at Turn 1 while battling Liam Lawson. He rejoined via the escape road and retained position – a move that earned him a 10-second penalty from the stewards.

Before the penalty was awarded, Alex and Lawson clashed again at Turn 1, resulting in further front-wing damage. The call was made to retire the car after the penalty was served.

With Alex sidelined, attention turned to Carlos. He managed his second stint on Soft tyres effectively before switching to Mediums on Lap 36 for the final run to the flag.

Carlos began to gain positions as others stopped, and with 12 laps to go, a Safety Car reset the field after Kimi Antonelli retired with a mechanical issue. We pitted Carlos for fresh Softs, setting up a final push from P16 in what became a seven-lap sprint to the finish.

He immediately challenged Yuki Tsunoda and eventually passed Esteban Ocon for P15. A post-race penalty for Ollie Bearman promoted Carlos to P14.

Alex Albon, Driver, Williams Racing

Carlos Sainz, Driver, Williams Racing

Pierre Gasly started the 2025 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix from P8 on Used Softs and maintained his position to finish in the same position after a strategic race. His pit stops on Lap 10 for Used Softs, Lap 31 for New Mediums, and Lap 55 for Used Softs showcased a calculated approach to tire management. Gasly’s fastest lap of 1 minute 17.896 seconds highlighted his consistent pace throughout the race.

Franco Colapinto started from P18 on New Softs and finished P15, navigating a challenging race at Barcelona. His pit stops on Lap 14 for New Mediums, Lap 39 for New Softs, and Lap 54 for Used Softs showed his adaptability amid track conditions. Colapinto’s fastest lap of 1 minute 18.353 seconds reflected his improvement in pace over the weekend.

Franco Colapinto, Driver, Alpine F1 Team

It was a tough race where we struggled to make progress due to the track’s nature and traffic. Tire degradation in dirty air added to the challenge. Track position was crucial, and there’s room for improvement in maximising the car’s potential, especially in low-fuel conditions. We’ll work closely with the team to analyse and prepare better for Montréal.

Pierre Gasly, Driver, Alpine F1 Team

It was a challenging Sunday for us, but scoring points is a positive outcome overall. The past few weeks have been tough, and we knew we needed to bounce back after our trip to Monaco. Qualifying was strong, but we faced more difficulties on race day. The Safety Car near the end allowed us to make a crucial pit-stop for fresh tyres, thanks to a great call from the team. We’ll review and work on our weaknesses as we head into Canada.

Flavio Briatore

Securing points in Barcelona was a positive outcome following a demanding weekend. We acknowledge our current car performance isn’t where we want it to be, evident in the recent races. Pierre executed a solid race, and the team’s strategic decision during the Safety Car period paid off with fresher tyres. Franco faced a tough race starting from the back and struggled to advance. As a team, we need to regroup and address our challenges to progress.

KICK Sauber F1 Team closed out the European triple header with a positive, points-scoring weekend at the 2025 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, making clear progress and recording the team’s best result in three years, thanks to the recent upgrade package as well as a well-executed strategy for both cars.

Nico Hulkenberg finished fifth, while Gabriel Bortoleto showed encouraging pace throughout the race, eventually just missing out on his first points in the final laps. It was a solid performance for the team, reflecting the work done in recent weeks, both on the track and back at base in Hinwil.

Nico Hulkenberg, Driver, Kick Sauber F1 Team

Right from the beginning, we were in the mix — a strong start, a clean first lap, and we were immediately able to fight for points. Ironically, not having the best Saturday and saving a set of softs gave us a strategic edge with the tyre allocation. The Safety Car mixed things up a bit, and having those fresh compounds turned out to be a golden ticket. There was a significant delta between used and new tyres today, so that paid off.

The car felt good all weekend, and the updates gave us a step forward in performance — we had a strong pace throughout the race. Credit to the entire team, both at the factory and on the track, for their hard work on the upgrades. I didn’t quite maximise things yesterday — it was disappointing to underdeliver, and I was frustrated with myself. But that anger gave me an extra push today. It’s satisfying to bounce back like this and bring home 10 points. That’s what matters in the end: a significant result for us.

Gabriel Bortoleto, Driver, Kick Sauber F1 Team

First things first, congratulations to Nico and the team. This result is a testament to how well the upgrades have worked, and seeing the car’s potential today has been truly inspiring, making me even more motivated to work towards my first points. From my side, I think it has been a solid race. We took everything we had in our hands and made the most of it. The team did an excellent job with the strategy today. The Safety Car didn’t swing our way, but that’s part of racing. What stands out is the pace we showed — it was strong, and the upgrades were a big step forward for both of us. It’s been a triple header full of learnings and positive momentum. We’re heading in the right direction, and now it’s back to work as we prepare to hit the ground running in Montreal in two weeks.

Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal, Kick Sauber F1 Team

Today was an outstanding performance for the team and for everyone back at the factory who worked so hard to deliver the upgrades. We opted for a soft-to-medium-soft strategy before the race, and that’s what we delivered against. Both cars had good starts, and the car’s pace was strong during the race. As a team, we made some excellent strategy calls, resulting in an outstanding performance all around. I would like to single out and congratulate the pit crew who worked tirelessly throughout the race, including an exceptional 2.1-second pit stop.

Looking at Nico’s race, he had a great opening lap, with us opting for an early first stop to cover Bearman. We boxed under the safety car for a new set of softs, capitalising on that with a great overtake on Hamilton. Nico finishing P5 was not only a great result, but it was also our highest finish since the Imola 2022 race.

As for Gabriel, we boxed him on lap 13 to put him on the mediums, looking at a potential one-stop. We took an aggressive strategy, looking for points for Gabriel, but unfortunately, that risk didn’t pay off. So, in the end, we boxed him under the safety car for a new set of softs, and he had a strong pace until the end of the race. It feels great to finish the European triple-header on such a high, securing valuable points and reflecting the hard work across the entire race and factory team.