The very first Formula 1 qualifying on the new Madring in Madrid produced a sensational pole position for Lando Norris on Saturday. The reigning McLaren world champion narrowly beats championship leader Kimi Antonelli in an exciting session. Max Verstappen also performs well, securing the third fastest time!
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Relive the qualifying for the Spanish GP below:
Q1: Russell fast, Spaniards Sainz and Alonso eliminated
The temperature is just above thirty degrees Celsius as the drivers head out for the first F1 qualifying on the Madring. Max Verstappen is one of the first to hit the track, on mediums. He thus saves a set of softs. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli (on softs) immediately places himself at the top of the timesheet: 1:33.566, Verstappen clocks 1:33.744. After the first laps, Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto and Verstappen’s temporary teammate Liam Lawson are also doing well. In fact, Lawson briefly sets the fastest time, on softs, at 1:33.316.
In his second fast run, Verstappen approaches Lawson’s time with 1:33.381. He is at least the fastest man on the medium compound and, for example, faster than the Ferraris. Antonelli had a moment but keeps his Mercedes out of the wall. Shortly after, teammate George Russell lightly touches the wall.
Max Verstappen stays in during the final phase of Q1. Spaniards Carlos Sainz (17th) and Fernando Alonso (18th) just miss out on the first cut. George Russell records the fastest time at the last moment (1:33.211), ahead of Antonelli. Verstappen is in fourth place, behind Lawson.
Eliminated Q1: Sainz, Alonso, Pérez, Bottas, Bearman, Stroll.
Q2: Fastest time for Verstappen eyeing pole
The second part of qualifying has started. The Mercedes cars of Russell and Antonelli are the first on track. Everyone is now on the fast softs, of course. Antonelli immediately sets a sharp benchmark: 1:32.603! But Max Verstappen posts three purple sectors and sets the fastest time: 1:32.557! After the first series of fast runs, the order at the top is: Verstappen, Antonelli, Russell, Lawson, Norris. The Red Bulls are definitely doing well.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc improve in the second part of Q2, on used softs. The Ferrari drivers are clearly playing a strategic game with their tires, with tomorrow’s race in mind.
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In his second fast run in Q2, Max Verstappen improves again, to 1:32.431. He thus ends Q2 with the fastest time, ahead of Antonelli, Hamilton, Leclerc, and Lawson respectively. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) makes Q3, as tenth, just barely. Pierre Gasly, the surprising polesitter from a week ago in Monza, is eliminated in fourteenth.
Eliminated Q2: Hülkenberg, Bortoleto, Ocon, Gasly, Tsunoda, Albon.
Q3: Sensational climax of qualifying on Madring
And Q3 is underway! Can Max Verstappen claim his first pole of the season? Kimi Antonelli sets the bar high with 1:32.140. The Italian is thus more than a tenth of a second faster than Mercedes teammate Russell. For the first time, Hamilton shows up at the front, driving a super fast lap and scoring 1:32.079! Max Verstappen’s first fast run is 1:32.333, good for fifth place. The Dutchman complains about little grip. The stewards will review an unsafe release by Arvid Lindblad after the session, who nearly hits a Ferrari.
Antonelli is the first to start his ultimate lap of the day. And successfully: 1:31.835. But it is still not enough for pole. At the last moment, world champion Lando Norris sensationally goes under it, with 1:31.824. The margin is only 0.011 seconds. Max Verstappen ends the session third, in 31.964.
Top-10: Norris, Antonelli, Verstappen, Hamilton, Leclerc, Russell, Piastri, Lawson, Colapinto, Lindblad.
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Read everything about the Spanish GP here
