McLaren's Piastri and Norris out to break Verstappen's hold on Spanish Grand Prix

Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have just three points between them at the top of the F1 standings as the McLaren pair aim to break Max Verstappen's hold on the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend. Verstappen has driven his Red Bull to victory at the race held north of Barcelona for the last three seasons, using the high-speed track as a stepping stone toward his haul of four straight world championships so far.

But McLaren has put Verstappen's reign in Spain, and overall title hopes, in jeopardy. Piastri and Norris have won six of the eight races so far in 2025, building on McLaren's constructors championship from last year. Now the question is if, or when, one of them will emerge as the team's best shot to dethrone Verstappen for the driver's title. Verstappen has won two races this year and is the only driver to stop a McLaren sweep so far. Piastri leads the standings with 161 points, with Verstappen in third place with 136.

“You have got to say that McLaren have to be favorite, they have looked incredibly strong throughout the early races,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said Friday. “We have got to make sure to keep in touch, and to beat them you have to start taking points off them.”

Piastri said that while Red Bull puts all its energies into Verstappen winning, with his new teammate Yuki Tsunoda clearly well behind, he and Norris make each other better even if they do take points off one another.

“Ultimately we want to be fighting for a championship, beating everyone on the grid,” Piastri told reporters in McLaren's motorhome at the track. “And if you've got someone there pushing you, then whilst that gives you some challenges at times as a team and as a driver, it also increases your level, which is ultimately what you want.”

Norris boosted by Monaco win: Lando Norris was McLaren's top driver until Piastri came along last season and showed that he will be a force to reckon with. Norris started this campaign with a win in Australia from pole. Piastri then took the top spot in China, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Miami. But just when it looked like the Australian had the upper hand inside McLaren, Norris came back with a masterful performance to win on Monaco's iconic street circuit from pole last weekend.

Verstappen needs his team to deliver Max Verstappen etched his name into the history of F1 back in 2016 in Montmelo when he became F1's youngest race winner at age 18. This year, Verstappen and his Red Bull team have been in the unfamiliar position of trying to close the gap with their papaya-colored competitors. McLaren's Piastri and Lando have shown they are right up near Verstappen's talent level, and the Dutch master needs his team to deliver a perfect setup for his car to have a chance at beating them both.

After winning at Imola two rounds ago, Verstappen signaled Barcelona as a track known for its high-speed corners where he hopes to make similar gains. That makes the race a near must-win for Verstappen. Norris, for one, is not anywhere near to ruling Verstappen out.

“If you think it's just out of me and Oscar, then I think you're a bit silly,” the English driver said. “Come on. We're racing Max every weekend. He's been on the podium several times. He's won races. He beat us in Imola fair and square because he was quicker.”

Lewis Hamilton is also in need of a good result at a race he has won a record six times. He has yet to finish above fourth since joining Ferrari. Stiffer wings may shake race up a bit F1 started applying stricter tests for cars' front wings at the Spanish GP. A flexible wing which bends backward under air resistance at high speed could offer an advantage by reducing the effect of drag on a car.

The rule change set to come into effect in Spain was announced in March. F1 started stricter tests on rear wings for flexibility at the Chinese GP in March. McLaren previously faced scrutiny last season over footage appearing to show its rear wings bending at high speed in the Azerbaijan GP. The cars were considered legal.

While drivers mostly downplayed the impact of the change, Williams' Carlos Sainz said it could produce “one-tenth (of a second per lap) swing up or down through the field for each team depending on how much you were flexing or not.” If that were true, it could shake up the order among the front-runners, and also in the midfield group, which includes Williams.

But any stiffening of front wings didn't stop Norris from picking up where he left off in Monaco. He put in the best last time during Friday's opening hour-long practice session, with Verstappen and Hamilton right behind.

A good start is crucial Teams have had less than a week to switch setups and strategies from the sinewy streets of Monaco to the fast 4.66-kilometer (2.89-mile) Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya where a good start usually proves key. The first corner at the end of the long start-finish straight is the best of relatively few opportunities to overtake. Last year, Verstappen pipped a pole-sitting Norris at the first turn and held him off for the win. (AP)