Sainz Faces Challenges After Qualifying Setback at Barcelona GP

BARCELONA, SPAIN – May 31, 2025 – Carlos Sainz experienced a tough qualifying session, finishing in P18 at his home race, the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Sainz, who has a history of scoring points at this venue, now faces a significant challenge in the race.

After the qualifying session, Sainz cited various problems, including traffic issues that hindered his performance. He explained, “Honestly, it was a very tricky Qualifying. I thought we had the pace to go to Q3, but after Franco Colapinto had a problem in the pit lane, I was out of position. I had to pass several cars during my push lap, which resulted in a lot of dirty air and the loss of vital tenths of seconds.”

Sainz’s teammate, Alex Albon, also struggled, finishing just outside the top 10 in P11 after experiencing similar traffic challenges. Albon remarked, “It’s a shame to miss out on Q3, but this shows we’re moving in the right direction. We still have some work to do, but I’m happy with the progress.”

Oscar Piastri secured pole position with a time of 1:11.546, followed closely by his McLaren teammate Lando Norris in P2. Piastri expressed his satisfaction, stating, “It’s been a good weekend so far, and I feel like I’ve been able to put in some good laps.” Meanwhile, Max Verstappen of Red Bull completed the top three with a qualifying time of 1:11.848.

Overall, the qualifying session showcased the competition among teams, with Mercedes and McLaren both presenting strong performances. Sainz now looks ahead to the race, hoping to capitalize on any opportunities. “We’re going to do everything possible to recover and make it back to the points,” he said.