It’s a McLaren/Red Bull first row and a Mercedes second row for Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix.
MONTMELO, Spain- Lando Norris broke the chances of Max Verstappen attempting another pole position for Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix by taking a 1:11:383 fastest lap to give the McLaren driver the front row. Friday’s practice winner, Mercedes’s Lewis Hamilton, took third.
Lando Norris: It was pretty much a perfect lap. When you are on a good lap and getting excited, the whole thing goes perfectly in the end. It was close, but I was super happy. It was my best pole position; I’ve not had many. We’ve been close all weekend, but this was about a perfect lap, which I did today. It was cool. The fans and my supporters here are amazing, so a big thanks to everyone cheering me on.
Norris took the quickest time at the last second, as the Briton was one of the final cars to finish a flying lap. George Russell gave Mercedes a great performance, being in the top four. Ferraris took the third row with Charles Leclerc in fifth and Carlos Sainz, driving in front of his home fans, in sixth.
Alpine had its best season qualifying this season, with Pierre Gasly taking seventh and Esteban Ocon ninth. Both Red Bull’s Sergio Perez (8th) and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri (10th) had disappointing performances, ending up as the last two drivers in the top ten.
Some top names, such as Williams Alex Albon, were knocked out in the opening session. At the same time, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll (#14) and Fernando Alonso (#11), RB’s Yuki Tsunoda (17th), Daniel Ricciardo (#18), and Haas teammates Nico Hulkenberg (#13) and Kevin Magnussen (#16) had disappointing drives.
Norris added that it would not be easy on race day. “It’s going to be tough against Max and Lewis and anyone behind, but we are here to win now, so that’s my plan.”
Sunday’s race will begin at 9 a.m. Eastern time, and ESPN will televise the event.
