P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren and Lando Norris came close to sealing another grand prix win but had to settle for second behind Max Verstappen.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella believes being stuck behind George Russell after the start of the Spanish Grand Prix cost them a chance to win the race. Pole-sitter Lando Norris dropped to third place on the opening lap as Max Verstappen and Russell moved ahead. Verstappen eventually took the lead while Norris struggled to overtake on older tires. Stella acknowledged the importance of the first lap and the tight competition in qualifying. Norris’ second-place finish was his sixth podium of the year, moving him to second in the drivers’ championship standings. Stella admitted that McLaren’s chances of victory would have been higher if they hadn’t lost track position to Russell at the start.
