Hamilton Lands Major Blow as McLaren Star Suffers S... read more

Hamilton Lands Major Blow as McLaren Star Suffers S… read more

Lewis Hamilton delivered a statement performance at the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, landing a major psychological and competitive blow as a McLaren front-runner suffered a surprising and dramatic defeat in Friday’s qualifying simulation runs.

The seven-time world champion topped the timesheets in the final practice session, clocking a blistering lap time that left many stunned — including McLaren’s rising star Lando Norris, who had been tipped as a favorite heading into the weekend.

Norris, who has shown strong pace throughout the 2025 season and even clinched a podium in Monaco, struggled to find balance in his MCL39. A series of uncharacteristic errors and setup misfires saw him finish a disappointing P10 in FP2, more than six-tenths off Hamilton’s benchmark time.

The McLaren team appeared perplexed, with engineers seen poring over data in the garage long after the session ended. Team principal Andrea Stella admitted post-session that they had “missed the window” with their car setup and would need overnight adjustments.

Meanwhile, Hamilton was all smiles. The Mercedes driver praised the team for the turnaround in pace and hinted that there’s more performance to come.

“This car felt alive today,” Hamilton said in a post-session interview. “We’ve been pushing hard behind the scenes, and it’s starting to come together. This was a big step.”

The result marks a potential turning point for Mercedes, who have been playing catch-up to Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren throughout much of the season. It also raises questions about McLaren’s consistency under pressure, especially with both qualifying and the race looming.

With Hamilton showing championship-caliber form and Norris reeling from an unexpected setback, the stage is now set for a dramatic showdown in Saturday’s qualifying session.

Can the McLaren star bounce back, or has Hamilton seized the psychological edge just when it matters most?