Oscar Piastri claims pole at the Spanish Grand Prix despite ‘cheeky’ move by McLaren teammate

• Oscar Piastri claims pole for the Spanish F1 Grand Prix
• Australian leads the F1 championship by three points

By JAMES COONEY FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA and AAP

Aussie Oscar Piastri delivered a stunning performance to claim pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix, edging out teammate Lando Norris in a dramatic qualifying session.

Just a week after Norris took out the Monaco GP, Piastri got one back over the Brit by delivering a blistering performance in Barcelona. 

Piastri held his nerve at the crucial moment, having started his final flying lap behind Norris, whose first tilt at pole was fastest, albeit with the help of a tow from the Australian. ‘Cheeky,’ was Piastri’s verdict on the slipstreaming.

It was ‘coincidental’, said Norris later, pointing to the vagary of where each found himself bringing them within range. Fair enough – and irrelevant anyway once Norris made a minor ricket of Turn One on his second and final attempt.

‘It was in the head at the end,’ said Rosberg, commentating on Sky. ‘Lando was overdriving from Turn One onwards. You could see him snapping the car and overcooking it, and on the exit always coming off line.

‘Piastri is so solid. He always delivers, no mistakes, whereas Lando is a bit the opposite.’

Oscar Piastri (pictured) claimed his fourth pole of the F1 season at the Spanish Grand Prix

The McLaren stars have won six of the first eight F1 races of the season.

The Aussie leads Norris by three points in the standings and will look to increase that in Sunday night’s race.

‘It is going to be tough tomorrow,’ Max Verstappen, who will start in third position, said.

‘That doesn’t mean we are not going to try.’

 It was Piastri’s fourth pole position of 2025.

‘It has been a good weekend so far. The car has been mega, and glad to put in some good laps as well,’ Piastri said.

‘It is a long way to turn one so I’ve got to make sure I make a good start.’

This event has seen the first sighting of the new front wings required to meet stricter flex tests introduced for the Spanish weekend, but there was no immediate indication of any significant change.

Aussie leads the F1 championship by three points ahead of teammate Lando Norris

McLaren have locked out the front row of the grid in Barcelona

‘I think it’s going to take more than one session to see if there is an impact. Or if so, how it’s affected the different cars,’ said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.

‘It didn’t sound from the drivers’ comments too different to a normal Friday.’

Horner also aired his views on McLaren’s top two. ‘You have got to say that McLaren have to be favourite, they have looked incredibly strong throughout the early races.

‘We have got to make sure to keep in touch, and to beat them you have to start taking points off them.’

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Oscar Piastri claims pole at the Spanish Grand Prix despite ‘cheeky’ move by McLaren teammate

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