F1 Results Today: Max Verstappen FUMES as late safety car drama causes ch… read more 

F1 Results Today: Max Verstappen FUMES as late safety car drama causes ch… read more 

Oscar Piastri claimed a decisive fourth victory of the season at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, leading McLaren teammate Lando Norris in a 1-2 finish that further solidified his position at the top of the drivers’ standings. While the Australian was in control throughout, the real drama unfolded behind him during the closing laps of an already unpredictable race — with reigning world champion Max Verstappen at the center of the chaos.

The race began with a complex strategic battle, primarily sparked when Verstappen committed to an aggressive three-stop approach shortly after his opening pit stop. That move threw the race into a strategic guessing game, as teams scrambled to anticipate tire life and pit window advantages. McLaren, however, expertly responded to the threat, successfully neutralizing Verstappen’s potential undercut by timing their own stops to perfection. This left Verstappen chasing the tail of Norris’ McLaren for the final 15 laps, unable to mount a successful challenge.

While McLaren drove a nearly flawless race out front, the contest for podium and top-ten positions became increasingly heated. Ferrari and Mercedes battled closely, with Charles Leclerc and George Russell holding the front for their respective teams. Meanwhile, veteran Lewis Hamilton and rising star Kimi Antonelli were locked in an intense scrap just behind the lead pack. The fight came to a premature end for Antonelli, whose Mercedes suffered a mechanical failure with 11 laps to go, sending him off into the gravel and triggering a late safety car that would reshape the final phase of the race.

The safety car caused the field to bunch up, and most drivers dove into the pits for a fresh set of tires in anticipation of a sprint to the finish. Verstappen opted for a set of hard compounds, a decision that would ultimately cost him. When the race resumed, Leclerc — on scrubbed but warmer hard tires — managed to overtake Verstappen, whose new tires lacked the immediate grip needed to defend effectively.

The final laps brought further drama, with Verstappen and Russell battling fiercely for fourth place. Verstappen attempted to defend his position by running off track, prompting race control to instruct him to return the place to Russell. The Dutchman, known for his competitive fire, erupted over the team radio in disbelief. Matters escalated when, in an apparent fit of frustration, Verstappen clipped the side of Russell’s car after yielding the place.

Race stewards swiftly reviewed the incident and handed Verstappen a ten-second time penalty after the chequered flag. With the field still tightly packed from the safety car period, the penalty dropped him from fifth down to tenth in the final standings — a major blow for the championship hopeful.

Up front, Piastri remained untouched by the chaos behind him. The Australian maintained a cool head under pressure and brought his McLaren home for a commanding win. Norris followed in second, just 2.471 seconds behind, sealing a valuable double podium for the Woking-based team. Ferrari’s Leclerc capitalized on the restart and late drama to finish third, over ten seconds behind the winner.

George Russell took fourth, followed by an impressive drive from Nico Hulkenberg, who brought his Sauber across the line in fifth. Lewis Hamilton managed sixth for Ferrari, while Isack Hadjar claimed a strong seventh for Racing Bulls. Pierre Gasly and Fernando Alonso rounded out the top ten alongside the penalized Verstappen.

Spanish Grand Prix 2025 – Final Results

1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – Winner

2. Lando Norris (McLaren) – +2.471s

3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +10.455s

4. George Russell (Mercedes) – +11.359s

5. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) – +13.648s

6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +15.508s

7. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – +16.022s

8. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – +17.882s

9. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +21.564s

10. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +21.826s (after 10s penalty)

 

Notable Mentions:

Liam Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto finished just outside the points.

Kimi Antonelli retired due to a mechanical issue, which triggered the late-race safety car.

Alex Albon was classified but did not finish.

Fastest Lap:

Despite no longer being rewarded with an extra point, Piastri set the fastest lap of the race, underscoring McLaren’s dominant pace.

Rule Change Update – No More Fastest Lap Points

In 2025, the FIA eliminated the extra point for fastest lap, a rule in place since 2019. The change was introduced to discourage drivers from pitting late just to steal the point — a tactic memorably used by Daniel Ricciardo in his final F1 race in 2024, when he claimed the fastest lap in Singapore despite finishing last, robbing Lando Norris of the bonus point and inadvertently aiding Verstappen’s championship campaign.

For now, the focus shifts to the next race — with Piastri firmly in control of the championship and tensions flaring among the usual front-runners.

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