The 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, which gets underway at 15:00 local time on June 1 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, will not only be remembered for the thrilling race, but also for a heated exchange afterward. McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, currently battling for the world championship, caused a stir with comments they made about Red Bull driver Max Verstappen during the post-race press conference. Their comments, which were described as “brutal” by some, drew the ire of Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, who branded the remarks disrespectful and unprofessional.
During the race, Piastri took the win, followed by Norris in second place, while Verstappen finished third. The result cemented McLaren’s dominance in the championship, with Piastri still leading and Norris in second place in the standings. Verstappen, who has been the victim of controversial moments with the McLaren drivers several times this season, such as in Saudi Arabia and Imola, once again delivered a strong performance, but was unable to keep up with the McLarens. The tension between the teams has been palpable this season, especially with the fierce battle for the title and recent incidents, such as Verstappen’s time penalty in Jeddah and his overtaking move on Piastri in Imola.
After the race, Piastri and Norris were asked what they thought of Verstappen’s performance, given his constant threat despite the speed of the McLaren cars. Piastri, who earlier this season showed he is not afraid to challenge Verstappen, responded in a tone that surprised many: “Max is doing what he can with what he has, but let’s be honest, he doesn’t have it in him to beat us this year. Maybe he should stop complaining and work a little harder.” Norris added with a laugh: “Yeah, I think he’s a bit frustrated because he’s not the fastest anymore. Maybe he should get used to following us.” These comments were met with a mixture of laughter and surprise by reporters, but they didn’t go down well with Red Bull.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner reacted angrily during his own press moment. He called the statements from Piastri and Norris unacceptable and pointed out that Verstappen is a four-time world champion who deserves respect. “These kinds of childish comments have no place in Formula 1. Max has shown more class in his career than these two put together. They may be fast, but they still have a lot to learn about sportsmanship,” said Horner, who also stressed that Red Bull is working hard to close the gap with McLaren. The recent rule changes on front wings, which were more strictly enforced by the FIA in Spain, have had little impact on the pecking order, according to Horner, meaning that McLaren still has an advantage.
Verstappen himself chose not to comment too much on his rivals’ comments. In a short interview after the race, he said: “I let my performance on track speak. If they feel better by saying things like that, fine. I focus on my own race.” This reaction shows the calmness that Verstappen has shown more often this season, despite fierce competition from McLaren. Still, it is clear that the tension between the drivers is increasing, especially now that the championship is so close.
Piastri and Norris’ comments have also caused division among fans. On social media, some have expressed support for the McLaren drivers, who they believe are simply expressing their confidence, while others believe they have gone too far and deserve more respect from Verstappen. With much of the season still to come, the rivalry between McLaren and Red Bull is only set to intensify. The Spanish Grand Prix not only delivered points for McLaren, but also added a new dimension to the psychological battle in Formula 1.
