Provisional Spanish GP Starting Grid Revealed Amid Investigation

Oscar Piastri will start from pole position at the 2025 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix after topping the timesheets in a tense qualifying session at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The McLaren driver edged out his teammate Lando Norris, who will line up second on Sunday, making it a front-row lockout for the Woking-based squad.

Max Verstappen’s lap was identical to George Russell’s in Q3, but the Red Bull driver secured third on the grid by setting his fastest time before Russell, leaving the Mercedes in fourth.

This session was packed with drama as the final starting order remains provisional ahead of race day. Lance Stroll is currently being investigated for an alleged infraction linked to the post-qualifying weighing procedure.

The FIA is expected to make a decision on his case before the lights go out. At the back of the field, Yuki Tsunoda will have a tough challenge after qualifying last for Red Bull, while rookie Franco Colapinto joins him at the rear in his Alpine.

The second row sees Verstappen and Russell sharing identical qualifying times, a rare occurrence in Formula 1. Just behind them, Lewis Hamilton in his Ferrari will start fifth, followed closely by young Mercedes talent Kimi Antonelli in sixth.

The top ten are completed by Charles Leclerc for Ferrari, Pierre Gasly in the Alpine, Isack Hadjar for Racing Bulls, and the home favorite Fernando Alonso in his Aston Martin taking tenth.

Notable drivers outside of the top ten include Alex Albon for Williams in eleventh, with Gabriel Bortoleto and Liam Lawson starting twelfth and thirteenth respectively. Pending the outcome of Stroll’s investigation, he is set to start fourteenth, sandwiched by Oliver Bearman in fifteenth and Nico Hulkenberg in sixteenth.

Esteban Ocon, Carlos Sainz, Franco Colapinto, and Tsunoda round out the grid.

This qualifying session continues a fiercely competitive 2025 season. In the drivers’ standings, Piastri leads with 161 points, holding a slim margin over Norris at 158 and Verstappen at 136.

The constructors’ fight is equally close, as McLaren tops the table with 319 points, chased by Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari.

Fans are anticipating a thrilling contest, with several drivers eager to capitalize on their starting positions. All eyes will be on the FIA as teams and viewers alike await the confirmation of the final grid.

Once the investigation is complete and the grid is set, attention will turn to the lights out on Sunday as the Spanish Grand Prix unfolds.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.