Former Components 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes McLaren will emerge as Mercedes’ major challenger at this weekend’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, regardless of the Woking outfit’s struggles in Monaco.
Mercedes arrives in Barcelona with spectacular momentum, led by championship chief Kimi Antonelli’s run of 5 consecutive grand prix wins, however Montoya expects a renewed menace from Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
McLaren endured a tough Monaco Grand Prix, with Norris’s retirement and a fifth-place end for Piastri. Nevertheless, the Colombian insists the crew’s aerodynamic strengths will return to the forefront in Spain.
“We went via all the road programs and every thing. So, folks will begin bringing upgrades right here. They are going to take a look at Austria, and so they’re going to take a look at Silverstone to carry new elements as a result of these tracks are all about downforce,” Montoya stated through the F1 TV Weekend Heat-Up present, alongside former Purple Bull mechanic Calum Nicholas and former IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe.
“You take a look at the McLarens, for instance, they actually struggled in Monaco, however I believe they’ll be the closest rivals to Mercedes right here. I believe their aero package deal is actually, actually robust.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / LAT Photos by way of Getty Photos
“I believe for them it is a massive wake-up name. We have to determine why had been we so unhealthy in Monaco and determine it out. However aero-wise, they appear to do a very good job. We have to see if they’ve the brand new entrance wing right here, if they’ve all of the elements. So, we’ll see.”
Whereas Antonelli leads the drivers’ championship with 156 factors, Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Charles Leclerc observe in second to fourth with 90, 88 and 75 factors, respectively. Piastri and Norris sit fifth and sixth within the standings, each on 58 factors.
The Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix marks the seventh spherical of the 2026 season and rounds out the double-header with final weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix.
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