P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen started the Spanish Grand Prix looking like he might stun McLaren again, but things went awry long before he barged into George Russell
Oscar Piastri won the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix in Formula 1, maintaining McLaren’s 1-2 finish with Lando Norris despite the safety car deployment 12 laps from the end. The technical directive regarding the Barcelona wing flex of McLaren did not significantly impact their performance, with the team easily complying with the changes.
McLaren’s decision for a two-stop strategy in the race led to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen opting for a riskier three-stop plan, which put pressure on McLaren with Verstappen’s aggressive driving. The uncertainty around tyre degradation rates and the impact of the new technical directive added complexity to the race strategies.
Verstappen’s challenge eventually faded, allowing McLaren to secure their positions comfortably. However, a fateful loss of oil pressure in Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes and the resulting safety car deployment shifted the dynamics of the race.
Ultimately, the safety car forced Verstappen to pit for new hard tyres, disrupting his three-stop strategy and complicating the final stages of the race. Despite the challenges, McLaren successfully defended their lead positions and secured a memorable victory in Spain.
