Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) will start Sunday from pole position in the Spanish Grand Prix in Formula 1, after setting the fastest qualifying time on Saturday at the Montmeló circuit.
The provisional leader of the world championship has achieved his fifth pole of the season out of seven possible and will start ahead of the Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Ferrari). The second row goes to the surprising Briton Lando Norris (McLaren) and the Frenchman Pierre Gasly (Alpine), who could however be penalized after having hindered other competitors during these qualifications.
“The car was very good. Of course it was a little tense with the weather. But in Q3 the car was very pleasant to drive. I love coming to Barcelona, the track, the public, I really love F1 here and I hope to be able to add another victory to my collection, ”said the reigning double world champion, at the microphone of Canal.
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) took fifth place on the grid, ahead of Canadian Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), who edged teammate Fernando Alonso for the first time this season in qualifying. Alonso only set the ninth fastest time after damaging his car when he left the track in Q2.
Frenchman Esteban Ocon (Alpine), who took a superb third place in Monaco last weekend, will start in seventh position, ahead of German Nico Hülkenberg (Haas), while Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren) will complete the Top 10.
These qualifications, contested on a slippery track at the start of the session, were marked by several big surprises.
First it was the Monegasque Charles Leclerc who was eliminated in Q1 and will only start in 19th and penultimate place. Then Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull, the Mexican Sergio Pérez, made a mistake and went for a lap in the gravel; Eliminated at the end of Q2, he will start in 11th place, ahead of Briton George Russell, who also disappointed with the other Mercedes.
