McLaren’s latest front‑wing upgrade, tested in Canada, is set to spark a renewed duel for pole at Barcelona.
Chandhok Hopes for Miami‑style Battle
Former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports pundit Karun Chandhok said the front‑wing changes introduced after the Canadian race should allow McLaren to challenge Mercedes again.
Chandhok added that the modified wing “has hopefully delivered some performance” and that, once the team enters qualifying, the “Miami‑esque” weekend should return, pitting McLaren directly against Mercedes on the grid.
Free‑Practice Performance Highlights
In the first practice session, Russell topped the times, followed by Piastri, while in the second session Norris surged to the front, with Russell and Piastri close behind.
These sessions show McLaren keeping pace with the front‑running Mercedes, as the Woking outfit remains competitive early in the season.
Seasonal Standings Snapshot
For the constructors, Mercedes leads after winning every race, Ferrari follows in second and McLaren lands third on the list.
In the drivers’ championship, Piastri and Norris occupy the fifth and sixth slots, each with 58 points.
On the front, Kimi Antonelli tops the standings with 156 points after his win in Japan, with Lewis Hamilton, Russell and Charles Leclerc trailing in that order.
With the front‑wing modifications in place and the aerodynamic edge projected, McLaren is poised to regain the knocking stake as Barcelona’s starting grid materialises.
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