WafricNews – June 1st, 2025

Oscar Piastri continued his impressive 2025 Formula One campaign with a commanding victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, leading a McLaren one-two ahead of teammate Lando Norris, while drama unfolded behind them with a late penalty dropping Max Verstappen out of the points.

Racing from pole on Sunday, Piastri held his nerve across 66 laps at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, securing his fifth win in just nine races. The 23-year-old Australian now leads the world championship by 10 points as McLaren enjoys a remarkable resurgence, claiming its seventh win of the season.

“This is exactly the response we needed after Monaco,” said a composed Piastri, referring to his third-place finish last week behind Norris. “It’s been a near-perfect weekend.”

Verstappen’s Race Unravels

The race took a dramatic turn in the closing stages when Verstappen, who had briefly led after early pit stops, was handed a 10-second time penalty after clashing twice with Mercedes’ George Russell. The second incident, which occurred after a late safety car restart, was deemed avoidable by race stewards and dropped the Red Bull driver from fifth to 10th in the final classification.

Verstappen was also involved in a physical tussle with Charles Leclerc, who eventually muscled past him with six laps to go to snatch the final podium spot for Ferrari.

“I tried to push him wide, yes. It was close,” Leclerc said post-race. Verstappen saw it differently: “He should have returned the place. It was a clear hit.”

Both drivers are under further post-race investigation for that clash, with additional penalties still on the table.

Russell, Hulkenberg, and Home Cheers

George Russell took fourth for Mercedes, after being reluctantly let through by Verstappen under team orders. In a standout drive, Nico Hulkenberg secured fifth for Sauber – the team set to become Audi in 2026 – beating Lewis Hamilton in a late duel. Hamilton’s sixth place marked another frustrating afternoon for Ferrari’s second driver.

Behind them, Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar took an impressive seventh, followed by Alpine’s Pierre Gasly. Spanish veteran Fernando Alonso finally gave home fans something to cheer about, finishing ninth for Aston Martin and scoring his first points of the season. His teammate Lance Stroll missed the race due to an injury sustained in qualifying.

How the Race Played Out

Piastri got off the line cleanly while Verstappen jumped into second, momentarily keeping the McLarens split. Norris reclaimed second on lap 13 and never looked back. Verstappen’s strategy of four pit stops – including a controversial switch to hard tyres during the safety car period – left him exposed late in the race as rivals charged on fresher softs.

A safety car on lap 55, brought out when rookie Kimi Antonelli beached his Mercedes in the gravel, reshuffled the pack. McLaren seized the opportunity to double-stack both cars for fresh rubber and maintain control at the front.

Verstappen’s frustrations were clear over the radio, questioning the team’s call to fit hard tyres. But Red Bull insisted they had no better options available.

What’s Next?

The F1 circus heads next to North America for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal on June 15, where McLaren will look to extend its lead and Red Bull seeks to regroup after a costly afternoon in Spain.

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By WafricNews Desk.