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Motorsport

Lydia Mee

Karun Chandhok backs McLaren to return to Miami form and challenge Mercedes in Barcelona

Karun Chandhok McLaren Mercedes Barcelona Miami George Russell Oscar Piastri Lando Norris

Former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports pundit Karun Chandhok believes McLaren's recent front wing modifications will allow it to resume its battle with Mercedes for pole position in Barcelona.

While McLaren proved to be Mercedes' closest challenger at the Miami Grand Prix in May, the Woking outfit was unable to threaten the current championship leader at the following two races in Canada and Monaco.

But Chandhok expects the track characteristics and aerodynamic upgrade to help bring McLaren back to the front of the grid in Spain.

"We have to see what happens when we get to qualifying. But at no point in Montreal or Monaco did McLaren look like they were going to challenge for pole whereas in Miami they were right there," Chandhok said during the Sky Sports F1 broadcast after the first two practice sessions ahead of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.

"They modified the front wing from Canada and that has hopefully delivered some performance. We are going to see a more Miami-esque weekend where it's McLaren vs Mercedes. I hope McLaren carry this form into qualifying."

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes (Photo by: Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images)

Mercedes' George Russell topped the timesheets in the first practice session and was followed by McLaren's Oscar Piastri with the second-fastest time. In free practice two, McLaren's Lando Norris went fastest and was followed by Russell and Piastri.

Heading into the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, Mercedes leads the constructors' championship after winning every grand prix so far this season. The Brackley outfit is followed by Ferrari in second and McLaren in third.

Piastri and Norris are fifth and sixth in the drivers' championship, with both on 58 points. Russell's Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers' standings with 156 points, after becoming the youngest driver to do so following his win in Japan, and is followed by Lewis Hamilton, Russell and Charles Leclerc.

Photos from Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

50 Formula 1

George Russell, Mercedes

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Alexander Albon, Williams

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Flavio Briatore, Alpine

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Koji Watanabe, President, CEO and Representative Director of Honda Racing Corporation

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

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