Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League did not witness the quickest car winning the 2024 edition of Formula 1’s Spanish Grand Prix. Lando Norris, who finished in second place, expressed his belief that the race winner, Max Verstappen, agreed with him. Despite this, there were significant developments for all the teams in the race, providing a more accurate representation of the current pecking order in F1. Here are the winners and losers from the event in Barcelona.
Ferrari had a frustrating weekend in Barcelona, similar to their experience in Canada. Despite introducing a decently-sized upgrade package, they did not see an immediate improvement in performance. Surprisingly, there was also a dispute between their drivers, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. Ferrari will need to address the issues with their car, as it is not performing as well as their competitors.
McLaren showed significant improvement compared to last year’s race in Barcelona. They were half a second off pole position in 2023 but secured pole this time around. Lando Norris had the fastest car in the race and McLaren has been consistently performing well in recent races. This marks a significant improvement for the team compared to their performance in the past decade.
Despite the overall optimism, McLaren and Norris will be disappointed with their defeat in the race. Norris admitted to making a mistake at the start, which he believed cost him the victory. However, McLaren executed the race well, and Norris still sees himself as a contender for the drivers’ title. The team should be frustrated that they did not outscore Red Bull in this race.
Max Verstappen’s victory was hard-fought, and he played a crucial role in securing the win. He made a strong start and overtook George Russell in the opening laps, avoiding the difficulties Norris faced in the first stint. Verstappen is aware of McLaren’s close competition and acknowledges that they have a faster race car. However, Red Bull managed to keep Norris at a safe distance throughout the race.
Sergio Perez’s extension with Red Bull did not produce the desired results in the Spanish Grand Prix. He struggled with the balance of the car and was the most outperformed teammate in the race. Perez’s performance was affected by his qualifying position and the penalty he received in Montreal. While there may be some sympathy for his difficulties in overtaking, being six tenths off his teammate’s pace is not sustainable.
Mercedes had a less than ideal weekend in Barcelona, with a noticeable gap in performance compared to previous races. They were three tenths off pole position and 18 seconds behind the race winner. Although the team has returned to a respectable level of performance, it is not yet a dominant force in F1. Mercedes’ drivers, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, are closely matched and provide valuable feedback on the car’s performance.
Oscar Piastri’s momentum came to a halt in the Spanish Grand Prix. He was unable to match Norris’s performance in the McLaren and had a poor qualifying session. Piastri needs to raise his performance floor to consistently compete with Norris. While he may have some weekends where he outperforms his teammate, he needs to ensure that his overall performance is at a higher level.
Alpine had its most competitive showing of the season in the Spanish Grand Prix. Pierre Gasly pointed out that he qualified fourth in last year’s race, indicating that there is still room for improvement. However, Alpine comfortably held the position of the best-of-the-rest team throughout the weekend. This consistent performance suggests that there is potential for further improvement in future races.
Alpine’s double-points finish in the Spanish Grand Prix is not an isolated incident. The team has shown improvement and has gained momentum in the midfield. This progress should allow them to move away from the bottom of the standings. This is bad news for teams like Haas and Sauber, who were hoping to secure better results this season. However, Williams had a disappointing weekend and struggled to compete with other teams.
Aston Martin’s return to form in the Canadian Grand Prix seems to be an exception rather than the norm. Their performance in Barcelona was inconsistent, and they were not in contention for points. Fernando Alonso expressed confidence in the team’s development direction but acknowledged that there is still work to be done. He also recognized that Alpine is improving while Aston Martin is facing challenges.