Lando Norris, McLaren (Pole, Fastest lap, P2, 19 pts): 9/10
Lando Norris is increasingly driving with the sort of confidence and determination that you would expect from a proven Grand Prix race winner. Today he tried hard to overcome his poor start from pole, but he couldn't quite use tyre strategy to snatch victory from Max Verstappen in the closing laps but it was a good try. He berated himself for his mistake and not winning, but we're going to credit him for topping FP1 and qualifying, setting the fastest lap and keeping his focus after that messy start. As a result of finishing in P2 for the third time in the last four races, he moves up to second in the drivers championship standings and is two points ahead of Charles Leclerc, which is testament to his strong run of form in 2024.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing (P1, 25 pts): 9/10
It wasn't the easiest of weekends for Red Bull which will be a concern for the team as Spain is the 'standard' F1 circuit that teams design their cars for, unlike the atypical tracks at Miami, Monaco and Montreal which went someway in explaining their struggles in recent races. To be off the pace in Barcelona suggests that their advantage over McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes has significantly declined. But they still have their greatest weapon firing on all cylinders in the cockpit, which is Max Verstappen. While he didn't top any practice sessions and narrowly failed to take pole or set the fastest lap, he still delivered when it came to the race itself with two crucial early passes on Lando Norris and George Russell giving him control on Sunday.
