McLaren Turns Up the Heat in Barcelona
Oscar Piastri stole the spotlight in FP3 at the Spanish Grand Prix, putting on a dominant display to top the final practice session with a scorching lap of 1:12.387. His McLaren teammate Lando Norris trailed by over half a second, confirming the team’s blistering pace heading into Qualifying.
Piastri Sends a Clear Message
While other teams struggled to find grip on the cooler track, Piastri was in a league of his own. The Australian delivered a clean and commanding lap during Qualifying simulations, leaving top rivals like Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and Max Verstappen chasing shadows.
Russell, Verstappen, and Leclerc Left Searching
Ferrari’s Leclerc could only manage third, just behind Norris. Russell briefly held the fastest time before being dethroned, while Verstappen fought through sliding issues and had to settle for fifth — a surprising position for the reigning World Champion.
McLaren the Team to Beat
Despite late pushes from multiple drivers, no one came close to challenging Piastri’s benchmark. With McLaren locking out the top spots in FP3, the team has firmly positioned itself as the favorite heading into the all-important Qualifying session at 16:00 local time.
Next Up: A Tight Qualifying Battle
With McLaren surging and top teams desperate to respond, Qualifying promises fireworks. Can Red Bull or Mercedes respond in time? Or is this the start of a McLaren masterclass in Spain? All eyes are now on the clock.