Barcelona, Spain – Lando Norris secured his first pole position in Formula 1 in three years after outpacing Max Verstappen during qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix. The McLaren driver described his performance as his best lap to date, edging out the competition in a thrilling qualifying session.
Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Perez, initially qualified in eighth place but received a three-place grid penalty from a previous race, pushing him down to 11th. This penalty resulted in Esteban Ocon, Oscar Piastri, and Fernando Alonso moving up one spot on the starting grid. Additionally, Logan Sargeant faced a grid penalty for impeding another driver during qualifying but still managed to start higher than his original position due to a strategic decision by his team.
Another significant development before the race was the last-minute change for Alex Albon, who had to undergo an unexpected change in his car’s components. As a result, Albon will start the race from the pitlane, indicating a challenging start for the Williams driver.
The starting order for the Spanish Grand Prix showcases Norris in pole position, followed by Verstappen in second and Lewis Hamilton in third. George Russell, Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon, Oscar Piastri, and Fernando Alonso round up the rest of the top ten positions for the race.
As anticipation builds for the race, fans eagerly await to see how Norris will defend his pole position and whether Verstappen and Hamilton can challenge him for the lead. The grid penalties faced by some drivers add an element of unpredictability to the race, ensuring an exciting and action-packed Grand Prix in Spain.