MADRID.- The British Lando Norris (McLaren) achieved pole position this Saturday in the Spanish Grand Prix of Formula 1 on the new circuit Madring from the Spanish capital, ahead of the current championship leader, the Italian Kimi Antonelli.
The current world champion beat Antonelli by just 11 thousandths of a second (mercedes), while the Dutch Max Verstappen (Red Bull) will start from third position, after being 140 thousandths of a second behind Norris in the qualifying round.
“I’m shocked, I’m a little surprised to be first. It was one of the best laps I’ve done in my career,” Norris said over the car radio after signing his third pole position in the last four races.
“The adrenaline was through the roof on the last lap, you have to relax and let everything flow,” added Norris, who had not made good times in the free practice sessions on Friday and Saturday.
“Lando did a little better”
Antonelli, the fastest in both the free seconds on Friday and Saturday morning, thought he had the pole assured when he overtook Verstappen shortly before the end, but Norris still had time to beat him.
“I thought I had done a very good lap, but Lando did a little better so bravo to him. We did a good job and we will see what we can do tomorrow (Sunday),” explained the Italian.
Antonelli, who has a 66-point advantage over his British teammate George Russellhe widely dominated his garage neighbor, who will only start from sixth position, behind Verstappen and the two Ferrari from english Lewis Hamilton and from Monegasque Charles Leclerc.
The Italian could, therefore, be tempted not to take too many risks on a track where overtaking will be very difficult, with the aim of further widening the gap in the championship over Russell, who is decidedly no longer able to keep up.
“I’m happy, it’s a great result. I haven’t been in the Top 3 much this year,” said Verstappen.
With the 19th pole in his career, Norris can aspire on Sunday to register his name as the first winner on the Madring circuit in the Spanish capital, where easy overtaking is not expected and where the walls are so close to the track that any driving error is paid for with an accident.
This same season, Norris already achieved victory in Hungary and Netherlands after starting from the first position on the grid.
“With the pole I will have a maximum chance of winning tomorrow (Sunday), but I will have many good drivers behind me. I am looking forward to it, but the race will be long on this complicated circuit where many things can happen,” said a cautious Norris.
The Spanish, among the last
His compatriot Hamilton will start alongside Verstappen on the second row of the grid.
Hamilton’s Ferrari teammate Leclerc qualified fifth ahead of Russell, the second Mercedes driver.
Oscar Piastri will start seventh with McLarenwith Liam Lawsonof Red Bulleighth, while the Argentine closes the Top 10 Franco Colapinto and the rookie Racing Bulls, Arvid Lindbladninth and tenth respectively.
In front of their audience, the Spanish Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) and Carlos Sainz (Williams) were eliminated in Q1 and will start from 17th and 18th place.
The Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) was one step away from taking part in Q3 and will start in 12th place, alongside his teammate Nico Hulkenberg.
The Mexican Sergio Perez (cadillac) posted the 19th best time.
