Oscar Piastri Wins Spanish Grand Prix As McLaren Takes One-Two Podium Position

 

Oscar Piastri won his fifth Grand Prix of the season in Barcelona for McLaren's one-two podium position, and trailed in third by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. Meanwhile, Red Bull's Max Verstappen was penalised and finished in the top 10. 

McLaren controlled the race to claim the victory, and Piastri maintained great form to win his first race since Miami. He had missed the podium pole in third in two previous races to Verstappen in Emilia Romagna and recently to his teammate in Miami. 

Pole-sitter Piastri made the most of the grid to take the provisional lead from the start. Meanwhile, Lando Norris lost position to Verstappen, who undercut him to move behind Piastri. However, Lando must avoid a collision with Verstappen, having gained the advantage on the inside lane. 

Leclerc swung in action in the latter stages for a podium finish after Mercedes Kimi Antonelli's DNF, leading to a safety. He battled with Verstappen to move ahead in third after gaining a DRS. Eventually, the three-time champion finished in P5 behind Mercedes' George Russell. 

Pitting and Tyres 

Red Bull's choice of hard tyres was to their disadvantage. Verstappen struggles with pace against Leclerc, who was on soft tyres. Although Verstappen questioned his team's choice of tyres, opting for hard tyres over medium tyres, when called for a pit stop following a safety car. 

"What? I was ahead! He ran me off the road," Verstapen replied when reached by the team on the radio call heading toward Turn 5 of lap 64.  

Verstappen was served a 10-second penalty for a collision with Russell. As a consequence, he was demoted to P10. The stewards had been instructed to give the position to Russell for going off the track. He was unsettled with the decision and collided with Russell while moving ahead of him as instructed. 

McLaren's choice of tyres served them right. They opted for soft tyres, and since the duo were in a provisional one-two lead before the safety car, they maintained the position to the finish line.

Lewis Hamilton and Dramatic Last Lap

Nico Hulkenberg delivered a stunning performance in the latter stages, gaining an advantage on the inside lane over Lewis Hamilton after gaining DRS. The Sauber driver took P6 and scored the team their second points of the season. Another similar situation was Fernando Alonso, who gained DRS on Liam Lawson to earn his first point of the season in P10. 

Drivers in the Top Five 

Oscar Piastri - McLaren 

Lando Norris - McLaren 

Charles Leclerc - Ferrari 

George Russell - Mercedes 

Nico Hulkenburg - Kick Sauber