Lando Norris rejoins the fight and more storylines for the F1 Spanish Grand Prix

McLaren driver Lando Norris’ win in the Monaco Grand Prix was the latest chapter in a fascinating title fight

The final race of a Formula 1 triple-header beckons, as the grid heads to Barcelona’s Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the Spanish Grand Prix.

And there are no shortage of storylines.

From Lando Norris’ win in the Monaco Grand Prix, to a hometown hero chasing his first points of the season, here are the key storylines for the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix.

Lando Norris vaults back into championship contention

Lando Norris’ second-place finish in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix pulled him to within 13 points of teammate Oscar Piastri in the Drivers’ Championship race.

But his win in Monaco, capping off what he called a “perfect” weekend, was the latest chapter in what is becoming a fascinating Drivers’ Championship race.

Piastri’s three consecutive wins — spanning from the Bahrain Grand Prix through Saudi Arabia and Miami — saw the McLaren driver break out a 16-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship race. But Max Verstappen’s win in Imola (along with Norris’ P2) pulled that pair closer to Piastri at the top of the table.

And with Norris finishing on the top of the podium in Monaco, and Piastri in third, the gap between the teammates is just three points as the grid heads to Barcelona.

At the moment Piastri leads the way with 161 points, followed by Norris on 158 and Verstappen in third with 136. But what might be even more notable for Norris is the form he showed in Monaco and the belief that will carry forward the rest of the season.

“I’ve been working hard over the last few months to get back to having that momentum that I had in Australia, that confidence,” began Norris after the Monaco Grand Prix. “What I felt this weekend was a small step forward, but it’s not it. It’s not like I’ve nailed it now and everything’s back.

“There are still things that I need to work on, there are still things that – as a team – them giving me the equipment – and I don’t mean just making a quicker car, because the car’s quick enough – but giving me the things I need from the car in order to excel and maximize results, and the differences from last year to this year,” continued Norris. “So, still things from both sides, but I’m very proud of yesterday. I’m happier with yesterday’s result than I am of today’s. I mean, today is incredible, but I was more emotional yesterday than I was today. That’s how much yesterday meant to me, to kind of get my groove back in qualifying, because it’s something I’ve just had my whole life. It’s just always been good, until this year. And I’ve had to work hard to try and get it back.

As for why Norris needed to “try and get” that qualifying form back, he noted that competing against the best in the world means he needs to be a his “highest level” possible.

“For no other reason apart from a couple of things that I’ve clearly struggled with and also just having tough competition. Having Oscar, Charles, Max, I’m against the best guys in the world. And if you’re not performing at the highest level, you’re not going to compete against them,” added Norris. “So, yeah, no one knows the amount of work and effort that goes into things apart from me and my team. And that’s the only people who need to know what goes into everything and know the truth of everything. And that’s the way it will stay.”

The first two races of this triple-header saw Verstappen, and then Norris, issue their responses to Piastri’s strong form.

We’ll see how the final chapter in this trilogy unfolds.

The latest chapter in the flexi-wing saga

Is this the week everything changes?

McLaren’s rivals would love to think so.

In recent weeks the technical debate has focused on McLaren’s ability to keep their tires in an optimal operating window, while their rivals often deal with tire overheating and degradation. That was certainly a focus in the hours after the Miami Grand Prix, where Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris locked out the front row. While rivals such as Christian Horner and Toto Wolff praised McLaren and their engineers for the development of the MCL39, other media outlets reported that Red Bull in particular was going to great lengths — including using thermal imaging — to try and uncover what McLaren was doing to keep their rear tires in a better operating window.

To be clear, neither Piastri’s No. 81 nor Norris’ No. 4 has failed any technical inspections this season, and a post-race inspection of Piastri’s MCL39 following his win in Miami found that “[a]ll inspected components were found to be in conformance with the 2025 Formula One Technical Regulations.”

However, that is not the only technical matter on the docket, and a bigger one comes into clearer focus this week.

The 2025 F1 season began with continued debate over the “flexi-wing” issue, which was a heated topic of discussion as the 2024 season wrote its final chapters. The issue? Front and rear wings that would pass technical inspections during a static test, but would “flex” under aerodynamic load, creating what some termed a “mini-DRS” effect.

While the sport’s governing body, the FIA, noted that all teams were compliant with the technical regulations, following the Singapore Grand Prix McLaren modified the rear wings on their cars.

Ahead of this season, the FIA introduced new testing for the rear wings, which began at the Australian Grand Prix. However, at this week’s Spanish Grand Prix additional testing will be done on front wings, which McLaren’s rivals believe could be a “gamechanger” for the season.

“The biggest one probably will be Spain because we have a clear change of regulation with the complete new front wing. This could change a little bit the picture of the championship. Let’s wait for this,” said Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

“It could be a reset on the immediate picture, but not on the championship. The guy who will lead the championship in Spain will still lead the championship after Spain, but, in terms of pure performance, it could be a gamechanger.”

Expect the “flexi-wing” debate to be a huge talking point this week.

Fernando Alonso’s quest for his first points of 2025

A few seasons ago, the grid arrived in Barcelona for the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix with Fernando Alonso dreaming of securing his long-awaited 33rd Grand Prix victory at home. Alonso and Aston Martin roared out of the gate that season, with Alonso having secured a podium in five of the previous six Grands Prix.

Now as the grid arrives in Barcelona, the hometown hero is still looking for his first point of the campaign.

Alonso is coming off perhaps his best shot at points this season, as he qualified up in P7 for the Monaco Grand Prix, and started sixth after a three-place grid penalty was handed out to Lewis Hamilton for impeding Max Verstappen during qualifying. Given the difficulty in overtaking at Monaco, it seemed a top-ten finish was in the cards.

But Alonso’s ARM25 suffered a problem with the Energy Recovery System on Lap 15, and the team eventually retired his car.

“I had a problem with the engine since lap 15 so we were down on power. I thought we might be able to hold on because overtaking is very difficult here, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case,” said Alonso after the race. “We lost another great opportunity to score some good points today. I am happy with my performance this weekend and we move on to the next race for another opportunity to go again.”

Can he break through with his first points of the 2025 season at home?

Carlos Sainz Jr.’s Spanish debut for Williams

Fernando Alonso is not the only driver about to race in front of his hometown fans.

Carlos Sainz Jr. heads to Barcelona now as a driver for Williams, and enters the Spanish Grand Prix on something of a hot streak. Sainz has finished in the points in each of the four Grands Prix, and while he has yet to reach the podium this year, he has acclimated to life at Williams rather well.

Can Sainz score at home?

The future of the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona

Similar to one of the major talking points ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, what is the future of F1 in Barcelona?

Madrid takes over as the host of the Spanish Grand Prix next year, with a new circuit joining the grid that will see drivers wind through the Spanish capital on both street and non-street sections. According to F1, the new circuit located just five minutes from Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suarez airport “will become one of the most accessible races on the F1 calendar, with the circuit just a short commute away by Metro, train, and city lines.” Estimates hold that “90% of fans will be able to travel to the paddock via public transport, while those staying in local accommodation will be a short walk away from the venue.”

However, Barcelona is still under contract for a race in 2026. Race promoters signed a contract extension with F1 in November of 2021 that runs through next season.

Race promoters are keen to extend that contract, which would give Spain races in both Barcelona and Madrid, but given the discussions over the future of Imola — with F1 officials noting that it might be too much for one nation to host more than a single Grand Prix, United States aside — the future of an F1 Grand Prix in Barcelona beyond 2026 is a matter of open debate.

There will be track action ahead of the year in Barcelona, as F1 already announced a pair of testing sessions before the 2026 season to give teams extra time with their 2026 challengers, the first under the sport’s incoming technical regulations.

But what about racing in Barcelona for 2026 and beyond?