JUAN PABLO MONTOYA NAMES MERCEDES' BIGGEST THREAT IN BARCELONA

Juan Pablo Montoya believes McLaren will emerge as Mercedes’ primary challenger at the Spanish Grand Prix, despite their struggles in Monaco. The former F1 driver highlighted McLaren's strong aerodynamic package as key for Barcelona-Catalunya, a circuit demanding high downforce. This contrasts sharply with their performance in Monaco, where Lando Norris retired and Oscar Piastri only managed fifth.

Mercedes arrives with significant momentum in this 2026 season, led by championship leader Kimi Antonelli’s impressive run of five consecutive grand prix wins. Montoya argued that Monaco was a "big wake-up call" for McLaren, but expects their true pace on aero-dependent tracks to put them squarely in contention. With teams eyeing Barcelona for new upgrades, the fight at the front is set to be intense, potentially narrowing the gap to Mercedes as the season progresses.