Picture Credit: X/@F1
An action packed, dramatic and fast paced race weekend unfolded in Spain with McLaren, dominating the field with a gusty 1-2 finish as the young Australian driver smarted the rest of the pack. Spare a thought for Lando Norris as well, who helped the famed British stable earn yet another podium finish.
Moreover, a few hours ago in Barcelona, a surprise podium for Ferrari, courtesy Leclerc’s P3 ensued. But what were the key moments that defined the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, round nine of the current world championship?
Oscar Piastri’s emphatic win
He didn’t win at Imola. He didn’t win at Monaco either. But in driving a brilliant, perfectly controlled 66-lap race, Piastri took utter control of the events in Spain and captured a maiden win at the sparkling 66-lap contest. 5 of his 7 race wins have come this year. And Oscar Piastri has certainly bounced back strongly.
He’s clearly in a class of his own this season.
Verstappen’s un-champion like act
Champions aren’t born, they are made and Max Verstappen, a four-time world champion, ought to have conducted himself better during the race. At the restart of the Spanish Grand Prix after the introduction of the safety car on lap 53 owing to Kimi Antonelli’s retirement, the Dutch driver, then on third, struggled for grip and went wide on the main straight perhaps on account of weaving too much.
And while he did well enough to execute a brilliant save upon the restart to avoid hitting Leclerc, who eventually got ahead of the Red Bull, Verstappen got caught into the act in a close battle with George Russell with whom he deliberately collided offering frustration over his own team’s call at being asked to let the Mercedes driver through.
This was in no way, whatsoever, an act worthy of a champion driver and Max certainly is one. But yesterday, at Cataloniya, Verstappen exhibited mannerisms that were simply unsavoury.
Resultantly, he earned a 10-second time panelty and his and his team's race result went completely awry.
A weekend to forget for Williams
Alex Albon, who had been consistently scoring points for Williams had to retire the car around the halfway point during the race after sustaining damage to the front wing of his Williams during a racing incident with Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls.
Meanwhile, local hero Carlos Sainz, who had found himself knocked out in Q1, a day earlier was trying his level best to score some points. It’s something that just didn’t occur in Barcelona with the Madrid-born finishing on a low key P14.
Fernando Alonso finally gets some points
The safety car being a late entrant to the race towards its fag end meant that Alonso reached closest to the top ten in front and not long after the restart of the race with just a handful of laps to go, the veteran legend of the sport benefited from the skirmish executed by Max Verstappen towards the end. The ten second time penalty handed to the Red Bull driver meant that Fernando Alonso reached P9, with the Dutchman relegated to a spot below on tenth.
At the end of the day, it was amazing to see Alonso, a titan of the sport, finally scoring points this season.
This was the same venue where, back in 2013, Alonso, then with Ferrari, captured an enthralling win.
Hulkenberg with a day to remember
Nico Hulkenberg, who had so far been scoring all of Sauber’s points emerged with a great drive at Barcelona in the end. On the final lap of the race, he managed to pass the Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton in just touching distance from the checkered flag. In so doing he went on to bag a strong P5 in the end that meant 10 further points, the best result for Sauber since 2022 in any Grand Prix.
