Formula 1 2025 Spain GP Preview

As much as qualifying in Monaco is fun, intense and exciting for everyone to watch, one has to admit that the track has outlived its lifespan. Current cars are too big and fast for the principality’s narrow streets. With almost no chance of overtaking, drivers only wait for errors from others and anticipate red flags to gain positions. Even the mandatory 2-stop strategy failed to add excitement, so as much as it pains to say it, Monaco might be leaving the F1 calendar in the near future.

With that said, the F1 calendar doesn’t stop. Action moves to Catalunya, Spain, for this weekend. It’s the penultimate visit to Barcelona for the teams, as from 2026, the venue will move to Madrid. Before the 10th Grand Prix of the 2025 F! season, there’s a 3-way battle for the driver’s championship going on. Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris and Max Verstappen are in tight competition for the crown, and the F1 odds change race by race. Let’s see what to expect on June 1!

Spain GP 2025 | Schedule

This is the Schedule for the F1 2025 Spain GP. All times are UK.

• FP1 – 12.30 pm, Friday
• FP2 – 4.00 pm, Friday
• FP3 – 11.30 am, Saturday
• Qualifying – 3.00 pm, Saturday
• Spain Grand Prix – 2.00 pm, Sunday

In the UK, Sky Sports is the official broadcaster of F1. You can also watch the action live worldwide via F1TV. 

3 Biggest Storylines Before the Spain GP

3-way Battle for the Drivers Championship

It’s been a while since we had such an intense battle for the driver’s crown, which involves not 2 but 3 drivers. Even though McLaren is running away with the constructor’s title, Max Verstappen is within the reach of both Papaya boys. Delivering one stellar drive after another, the Dutchman has been able to win multiple races and, after 9 races, only trails the championship leader, Oscar Piastri by 25 points.

Lando Norris finally bounced back, closing on Oscar Piastri after two great races in Imola and Monaco back-to-back. Winning at the principality will definitely boost his momentum before Catalunya, where both McLarens should be strong contenders.

As for McLaren’s young Aussie Oscar Piastri, things are still within his control. He has shown some inconsistencies during qualifying, but if previous 2025 performances are any indication, he’s ready to bounce back. 

So far, this season is reminiscent of the 2010 campaign, where we had a 4-way battle for the title with Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton. Fans hope that all frontrunners can stay on top of their game, and we will be blessed with more excitement at every Grand Prix weekend.

Ferrari Bringing More Upgrades

The Scuderia’s 2025 campaign has been a challenging one, marked by inconsistency. Lewis Hamilton won the Sprint in Shanghai, and Charles Leclerc managed podium finishes in Jeddah and Monaco. Apart from that, and despite the high expectations after pre-season testing, Ferrari has often found itself on the back of McLaren’s, Max Verstappen’s Red Bull and Mercedes cars.

Finicky car balance, rear-end instability and issues with set-up have plagued their 2025 season so far. Even if both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton seem extremely disappointed in the interviews, hinting at the fact that this season can’t be salvaged, team boss Frederic Vasseur remains optimistic that there’s more potential in the car.

Ferrari has been the most upgrade-focused outfit among the top teams, bringing small and big update packages to Bahrain and Imola, and it will do so again for the Spanish Grand Prix. They seemingly tested things during the Emilia-Romagna GP and should address their inconsistency issues in Catalunya.

With the hopes that FIA’s front wing flexibility clampdown can even the playing field and reduce McLaren’s gap in front, the eyes of the Tifosi will be locked on the Spanish GP track. If all things go in their favour, they could be a surprise addition to the fight up front, adding even more excitement. With that being said, it’s still a long shot…

Are Williams a Real Threat to the Top Teams?

Time after time, both Williams drivers are competitive in Q3 outings and bring back points from races. Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz have put pressure on Mercedes and Ferrari cars as well as Yuki Tsunoda on numerous occasions, sometimes having much better pace during the race.

With the arrival of former Mercedes-mastermind James Vowles, the trend of Williams has been on the up. It seems that the success they’re having in 2025 hasn’t been anticipated after testing, but on some race weekends, they’re more than just the best of the rest. The storied team is capable of podium positions if all goes according to plan.

It’s time to put some respect back on the Williams name and see if the Oxfordshire outfit can continue their impressive run in the near future.

Spain GP | Track & History

For a while, fans were keen on bashing the Spanish GP, labelling it as a ‘Snoozefest’ and unworthy of being on the calendar. However, history shows that this track has brought immense excitement to fans, almost unlike any other venue in Formula 1 history.

Built for the 1992 Olympic games and first advertised as the ‘Olympic Track’, Barcelona has been a part of the F1 calendar for more than 3 decades. Although it’s set to be replaced by a new street circuit in Madrid from 2026 onwards, fans have to tip their hats to Circuit de Catalunya for the many brilliant moments it has brought. 

The 2.894-mile-long beast of a track is known for its abrasive tarmac that chews tyres, making for a brutal chess game between those staying out longer and drivers on a rampant pursuit with fresher rubber. A balanced mix between flowing corners and long straights provides a few opportunities for overtaking and intense wheel-to-wheel racing.

The history of Barcelona is full of drama. In 1996, Michael Schumacher tamed a monsoon of a rain shower and delivered a wet-drive masterclass for his first-ever win in a scarlet Ferrari. The 2012 race was also exciting as we saw Pastor Maldonado’s only ever F1 victory, only for his car to burst into flames soon after. Four years later, we saw two championship frontrunners, the Mercedes pairing of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, colliding in a race-ending clash at Turn 4. This allowed the young Red Bull phenomenon Max Verstappen to become the youngest-ever F1 race winner.

Besides historic wins, Circuit the Catalunya holds multiple heartbreaks, like Charles Leclerc’s 2022 pole-to-DNF fiasco. Crippled by engine failure, the race leader retired, marking a turning point for Scuderia’s campaign and gifting momentum to Max Verstappen, eventual champion.

In 2024, Max Verstappen showed why he’s the best driver on the grid, overtaking for the lead on lap 3 and fending off Lando Norris for a race win worthy of a champion. Overall, Barcelona remains a gladiatorial arena where dreams can be shattered just as easily as legends are born.

Recap of the Last Racing Weekend | Monaco GP

Monaco GP qualifying went on in the typical chaotic fashion. Both Mercedes drivers failed to reach Q3, while Lewis Hamilton, Ollie Bearman and Lance Stroll got penalised for impeding or red-flag infringements. Eventually, Charles Leclerc almost grabbed pole, only to lose out to Lando Norris, who delivered a Monaco all-time lap record.

In the race, we saw a change in rules, introducing a mandatory 2-stop, which was anticipated to bring in more excitement. Spoiler alert: it didn’t, as a handful of drivers – Isack Hadjar, Lewis Hamilton, Esteban Ocon, Liam Lawson and both Williams benefited while others were stuck. Aided by teamwork and backing up the field behind them, Williams and RB pairings worked together to create pit-stop gaps and secured points positions.

Up front, Lando Norris had a straightforward race, only seeing pressure from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in the final laps. The Monegasque and Oscar Piastri rounded out the podium, while Max Verstappen finished 4th for damage limitation in the fight for the Driver Championship. 

Standings Before the Spain Grand Prix

Current F1 standings for 2025 before the Spain Grand Prix.

Driver Standings

Constructor Standings

Here are the constructor standings before the 2025 Spain GP

The Spanish Grand Prix is always unpredictable. Depending on the weather, we may see wet drive excellence or a high-speed intense battle for many laps. Oscar Piastri will want to grab 25 points to extend his lead atop the table further. However, it won’t be easy as Lando Norris is back in the game and there’s also one more man who’s always ready to take the fight to the Papaya cars. His name? Max Verstappen. In addition, if Ferrari’s upgrades and the FIA clampdown work as anticipated, the field could tighten up even more.

If you’re a fan of F1, follow our blog to find all GP previews. Our experts provide insights for every race and cover the main storylines around the paddock. Finally, keep in mind that 7bet UK offers motorsports odds for you to check out!

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