Breaking: Verstappen and title rival post IDENTICAL times as Hamilton s…read more
Verstappen and title rival post IDENTICAL times as Hamilton s…read more
The 2025 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix weekend kicked off with thrilling on-track action, as reigning world champion Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris lit up the timing sheets in spectacular fashion. The two title contenders posted identical lap times of 1:13.070 in a session that underlined just how razor-thin the margins are at the front of the grid this season.
Despite Norris matching Verstappen’s time to the thousandth of a second, it was the Red Bull driver who was classified ahead, having recorded the lap earlier. The rulebook dictates that in such situations, the driver who sets the time first is awarded the higher position — a subtle reminder of how timing and strategy can be just as critical as raw pace.
However, both Verstappen and Norris were overshadowed in Free Practice 2 (FP2) by Norris’ McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, who continues to grow in stature with each race weekend. The young Australian currently leads the championship standings and underlined his frontrunner status by going fastest in the second practice session. Piastri edged ahead of both Verstappen and Norris, sending a strong message that he’s not just a rising star but a legitimate title favorite.
While the top three provided plenty of excitement for fans, the same couldn’t be said for Lewis Hamilton, who endured another frustrating session in his Mercedes. The seven-time world champion has been vocal about the team’s ongoing struggle to unlock consistent performance from their car, and those issues appeared once again in Barcelona. Hamilton failed to trouble the front-runners and finished well down the order, prompting concerns that Mercedes may be slipping further behind their rivals in the development race.
The weekend’s early sessions have hinted at an extremely close battle ahead, with McLaren emerging as Red Bull’s main challengers — and possibly even the team to beat — thanks to their improved pace and the confidence radiating from both drivers. Piastri, in particular, appears to be riding high on momentum, while Norris is proving he’s ready to challenge for his first win of the season.
As the Spanish Grand Prix builds towards qualifying and race day, all eyes will be on whether McLaren can convert their pace into pole position and potentially a race victory, or if Verstappen will fight back to reassert his dominance. Meanwhile, Hamilton and Mercedes will be desperate to find answers and avoid another weekend of disappointment.
