McLaren will allow both drivers to race into Turn 1 at the F1 2025 Spanish GP as Oscar Piastri secures pole position ahead of Lando Norris at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
The Australian delivered a 1:11.546 to snatch the starting spot away from his teammate, who endured a scruffy final lap in Montemelo on Saturday, May 31.
This is one of the rare times the pair have actually started alongside each other, the first since the season opener all the way back in Melbourne on March 16 and fans are excited to see how they race each other.
Particularly in Spain, which enjoys a long run down to Turn 1 and can create overtaking chances off the line thanks to the slipstream – as George Russell proved in 2024 by sweeping around the outside to take the lead from fourth.
So how will McLaren respond to the situation they find themselves in? Can fans expect a very conservative approach into the first braking zone on Sunday, or will they witness something such as the start of the 2024 Italian GP?
According to the team boss, Andrea Stella, the drivers will be free to race as the 54-year-old trusts them to keep it clean and avoid a situation such as the 2016 Spanish GP when Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg crashed.
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“We have our racing approach,” Stella told Sky Sports F1. “Which is a process between Lando and Oscar that has been going on for months.
“It’s based on principles but when it comes to racing against your team-mate, or any other car, you can’t be too prescriptive.We trust our drivers. This is the most important factor.
“We have great conversations constantly. I’m sure it will be an exciting, fair battle until the end of the championship.”
What did Oscar Piastri say ahead of F1 2025 Spanish GP?
For the pole-sitter and championship leader, it’s another good Saturday. He’s now claimed the front starting spot on five occasions and has only been beaten from there once, at the Emilia Romagna GP.
Subsequently, the omens are lining up for him to extend his lead at the summit of the drivers’ standings, but he puts all of the praise on his team at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for creating the dominant MCL39.
“Very happy. It’s been a good weekend so far,” Piastri said to F1 TV. “Didn’t start off in the best way, we were struggling a little bit, but last night we found some pace and today the car is mega.
“And I feel I have been able to put in some good laps as well. This was a pretty miserable scene 12 months ago so to turn it around in the best way is a great result.”
What did Lando Norris say ahead of 2025 Spanish GP?
After struggling in qualifying between Round 2 and 7, including a crash in Saudi Arabia, it looked as though Norris had roared back to form last time out in Monaco by bagging pole.
However, in Iberia, things quickly unravelled for the Brit as he struggled to put his final run in Q3 together and ultimately opened the door for his direct championship rival to snag pole.
Struggling for confidence on his run, he seemed as though he was feeling the pressure of the moment and, according to Rosberg, was overdriving. Meanwhile, Piastri was composed and focused.
“Oscar drove very well,” Norris told F1 TV. “The pace is definitely there, just a couple of little mistakes.
“A good result for the team, a nice one-two and an interesting start for tomorrow.
“It’s a long run down to Turn 1, which is normally interesting and we have a lot of quick guys behind us, so we won’t count them out. A good result today, I’m happy.”
