F1: Spanish Grand Prix Preview and Betting Tips

Looking back to last weekend’s race in Monte Carlo, Lando Norris converted pole position to the race win for the first time since the opening race in Australia. The new mandatory two-stop rule offered a bit more jeopardy to the race, but starting from pole remains the most important part of the weekend.

The Briton finished ahead of hometown hero Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. Norris’ second win of the season saw him reduce Piastri’s lead in the drivers’ championship to three points and move 22 points ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

The battle between McLaren and Red Bull resumes this weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Let’s take a closer look at what this race track offers, and how the teams will set up their cars.

The Track

The first GP was held here back in 1991 and this will be the last Spanish GP held at the Circuit de Catalunya. A new street circuit in Spain’s capital Madrid will replace the track in 2026.

Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton are the most successful drivers, with six Spanish GP wins apiece.

The 4.675km track has a mix of fast, flowing corners, technical sections, and a long straight. There are two DRS zones and top speed is over 320km/h. The circuit has 14 corners (eight to the right and six to the left). The downforce is dialed to a maximum at the challenging turns 3 and 9. Aerodynamic performance is key around the track.

The circuit was used for testing as it offers teams a spread of all the technical challenges they’ll encounter in the season. Barcelona is a great litmus test to see how well cars will fare for the rest of the season. “if a car works well here it does so everywhere.”

We’ll see teams bring upgrades this weekend, but perhaps more importantly the FIA announced a new technical directive. It deals with the flexibility of the wings, which some experts reckon could affect car performance, Pirelli says.

Who are the favourites?

Last year, Norris lost the race despite starting on pole with four-time champion Verstappen taking the victory. In 2025, McLaren had the fastest car so far except in Suzuka and Imola where the Red Bull showed its prowess. However, the new technical directive could be an Achilles heel for the Papaya team.

Ferrari team boss said this to: “This can be a game-changer for everybody because we don’t know the impact on every single team of the new regulation.”

Reducing the amount of flex in the front wing could reduce the advantage that the top teams currently have over the field. Mercedes and Ferrari might feel they have a better chance of getting onto the podium in Barcelona. The result is that it won’t be straightforward to predict a winner, but the technical directive is unlikely to demote the rapid McLaren to be the fifth fastest car.

So, Who Has The Best Chance Of Victory This Weekend?

Red Bull is likely to be back in the mix after Verstappen’s fourth-place finish in Monaco. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya’s high-speed corners will suit Red Bull and is expected to make them more competitive against McLaren. Verstappen’s victory at Imola is a testament to how a fast track suits the Red Bull.

Mercedes is another team that could do well in Spain. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli have driven well this season, occupying second place in the constructors’ standings. The high-speed nature of this circuit will play to their car’s strength.

They’ll likely face competition from Williams, who finished in ninth and 10th last weekend, ahead of Mercedes. The Grove-based team has a rapid car and could challenge for a place in the top five.

Further down the order, look out for Aston Martin whose heavily upgraded car could pay dividends in Spain. Isack Hadjar is driving superbly and the Racing Bull is a rapid car in his hands, another top 10 finish is likely on the cards for the rookie.

Predictions

Grand Prix Winner: Max Verstappen

Grand Prix podium:Verstappen, Piastri, Norris

Pole position: Verstappen

Top 4 and 5: Russell, Antonelli

Race Winning Margin: Under 5 seconds

Fastest lap: Verstappen

First to retire: Liam Lawson

First car to retire: Racing Bull

Most Team Points: McLaren

Both Cars Qualify for Q3 Shootout: Red Bull

Practice 1/2/3 Winning Car: Norris/ McLaren

Safety Car: No

Fastest pit stop: Ferrari