Breaking: Piastri Leads the Way in FP2 as Hamilton Becomes Talk of….read more 

McLaren continued to demonstrate strong form under the latest Technical Directive as Oscar Piastri topped the timesheets in the second free practice session (FP2) at the Spanish Grand Prix. The Australian driver looked composed and quick under the scorching Spanish sun at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, laying down a marker for the weekend ahead.

Piastri set the fastest lap of the session, comfortably outpacing Mercedes’ George Russell, who ended up nearly three-tenths of a second adrift. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen followed in third, as the reigning World Champion appeared to be struggling to match the pace of the leading McLaren. Though Red Bull remains a strong force overall, Piastri’s commanding performance raised the question of whether McLaren might be the team to beat this weekend.

While Piastri stole the spotlight with his speed, it was Lewis Hamilton who found himself at the center of attention — albeit for different reasons. The seven-time World Champion was dubbed the “hero of the day,” a title laced with sarcasm from home favourite Fernando Alonso. While the context behind Alonso’s comment wasn’t immediately clear, the remark hinted at an on-track incident or some underlying tension between the two veteran drivers, whose rivalry dates back to their infamous 2007 season as teammates.

As the teams ramped up their preparations for Sunday’s race, FP2 also marked the first appearance of Esteban Ocon for Haas and Alex Albon for Williams this weekend. Both drivers had sat out FP1, with their seats temporarily handed to rookies Ryo Hirakawa and Victor Martins respectively. These young talents were taking part in mandatory rookie sessions that are increasingly becoming a feature of modern F1 weekends, offering teams a chance to evaluate emerging prospects under real-world conditions.

Overall, FP2 provided a clearer picture of where the teams stand under the current regulations. McLaren’s consistency through recent updates appears to have positioned them well, and Piastri’s performance indicates they could challenge for top honors this weekend. Mercedes seems to be gradually improving, with Russell showing promise, but Red Bull’s dominance may be under genuine threat — at least in qualifying trim.

With more practice still to come before qualifying, and Alonso’s pointed remarks stirring up drama, the Spanish Grand Prix weekend is shaping up to be an intriguing affair both on and off the track.