Oscar Piastri reveals McLaren could face a major risk of missing out on pole position at the 2025 Spanish GP, despite the 24-year-old topping the timesheets in the second Free Practice session in Barcelona.
Qualifying for the latest Formula 1 race could be fiercely contested following an encouraging but revealing Friday for McLaren, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen close and Mercedes and Ferrari not a million miles away.
His best effort of 1:12.760 placed him nearly three-tenths of a second ahead of the pack in an encouraging sign for his championship ambitions, as both the Dutchman and George Russell managed to split the papaya-coloured cars.
Charles Leclerc ended the day in fifth amid hot conditions at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the Ferrari driver seen sliding during his flying lap as many struggled to find grip.
Yet despite this apparent advantage, Piastri reveals McLaren could face a major risk of missing out on pole position at the 2025 Spanish GP, warning the pack is close.
“It’s been a bit of an up and down day,” Piastri told F1 TV. “Obviously ending on an up, which is good. But our competitors look quick.
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“I think Verstappen has been quick all day, Ferrari have been there, Mercedes popped up at the end, so it’s going to be a tight battle tomorrow. There are definitely still some things to try and work on.”
Piastri ultimately not concerned by 2025 Spanish GP gap to rivals
This weekend has been particularly significant for McLaren due to the implementation of a new front-wing technical directive by the FIA, as the revised regulation includes stricter load testing.
This is designed to limit excessive aerodynamic flexing, an area where rivals believed the team had gained a competitive advantage in previous races and throughout the 2024 season too.
The changes have brought added focus on the Woking-based outfit, with expectations among competitors that their pace might be curtailed under the updated rules. However, the team appeared unaffected by the adjustment.
Delivering strong performances in both FP1 and FP2, Rob Marshall (chief designer) and McLaren’s technical group seem to have successfully adapted, at least based on early indications in Spain.
That’s potentially why Piastri wasn’t fazed by the pace of the chasing back as the young racer remains devoutly confident in McLaren’s ability to perform at the 2025 Spanish GP.
“Not necessarily [concerned],” Piastri added, of the speed of the other teams. “I think we definitely expected Red Bull to be quick, so that’s not a big surprise.
“But just trying to make the car a bit faster really, that’s all. We tried a few things today – some have been good, some have not been so good. We’re learning, so I think it’s been a good day.”
