Formula 1 News: Superior McLaren locks out GP of Spain front row

Oscar Piastri turned a lap of 1m11.546s in the superior Rob Marshall designed McLaren to win pole position for the 2025 GP of Spain by 0.209s over his teammate Lando Norris around the Barcelona Circuit.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

The Rob Marshall designed McLaren is so superior the race tomorrow will be a walk in the park for the team from Woking. They also dominated all three practice sessions.

Rob Marshall, chief technical officer at McLaren Mercedes, during the Spanish GP, Barcelona 29 May-1 June 2025, Montemelò Formula 1 World championship 2025.

“Very happy, it has been a good weekend so far,” said a happy Piastri who won his 4th pole of the year. “The car has been mega, and glad to put in some good laps as well,” he said.

“It was a pretty miserable scene [here] 12 months ago, so to turn it around was good. It wasn’t the perfect lap, but happy with what I put in.”

While his Red Bull teammate Yuki Tsunoda was dead last in the RB21 sled, Max Verstappen carried the car on his back to third fast time, 0.302s behind Piastri’s McLaren.

Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB21 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Sam Bagnall/Sutton Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //

George Russell set an identical time to Verstappen but did it second and will start 4th in his #63 Mercedes.

Lewis Hamilton had one of his better qualifying sessions of the year to finish 5th in his #44 Ferrari, 0.499s behind Piastri’s McLaren.

44 HAMILTON Lewis (gbr), Scuderia Ferrari SF-25, action during the Formula 1 Aramco Gran Premio de Espana 2025, Spanish Grand Prix 2025, 9th round of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship from May 30 to June 1, 2025 on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Montmeló, Spain – Photo Eric Alonso / DPPI

Kimi Antonelli was 6th in the #12 Mercedes, 0.565s behind Piastri’s McLaren.

Charles Leclerc wound up seventh in the #16 Ferrari, ahead of Pirre Gasly, Isack Hadjar and hometown favorite Fernando Alonso.

Norris might fancy his chances on the long run down to Turn 1 on Sunday. But watch out for Verstappen and Russell, who could both have a slipstream – and we saw what the Dutchman can do from behind in Imola.

2025 GP of Spain Qualifying Results

Pos	No	Driver	Car	Q1	Q2	Q3	Laps
1	81	Oscar Piastri	McLaren Mercedes	1:12.551	1:11.998	1:11.546	14
2	4	Lando Norris	McLaren Mercedes	1:12.799	1:12.056	1:11.755	15
3	1	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT	1:12.798	1:12.358	1:11.848	12
4	63	George Russell	Mercedes	1:12.806	1:12.407	1:11.848	12
5	44	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	1:13.058	1:12.447	1:12.045	15
6	12	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	1:12.815	1:12.585	1:12.111	18
7	16	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	1:13.014	1:12.495	1:12.131	12
8	10	Pierre Gasly	Alpine Renault	1:13.081	1:12.611	1:12.199	18
9	6	Isack Hadjar	Racing Bulls Honda RBPT	1:13.139	1:12.461	1:12.252	15
10	14	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes	1:13.102	1:12.523	1:12.284	14
11	23	Alexander Albon	Williams Mercedes	1:13.044	1:12.641	–	14
12	5	Gabriel Bortoleto	Kick Sauber Ferrari	1:13.045	1:12.756	–	12
13	30	Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls Honda RBPT	1:13.039	1:12.763	–	12
14	18	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes	1:13.038	1:13.058	–	15
15	87	Oliver Bearman	Haas Ferrari	1:13.074	1:13.315	–	15
16	27	Nico Hulkenberg	Kick Sauber Ferrari	1:13.190	–	–	6
17	31	Esteban Ocon	Haas Ferrari	1:13.201	–	–	9
18	55	Carlos Sainz	Williams Mercedes	1:13.203	–	–	6
19	43	Franco Colapinto	Alpine Renault	1:13.334	–	–	7
20	22	Yuki Tsunoda	Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT	1:13.385	–	–	6