Antonelli and Verstappen Lead Spanish GP Qualifying as Madrid Circuit Tests Drivers

Qualifying for the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix at Madrid’s new Madring circuit saw Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen emerge as the front-runners, setting the stage for a challenging Sunday race on the tight street circuit.

Antonelli claimed the early advantage in Q2 with a lap of 1:32.603, finishing second just 0.034 seconds behind Verstappen. The session was marked by mixed fortunes for the Mercedes duo; while Antonelli progressed smoothly, teammate George Russell endured a difficult afternoon. Russell kissed the wall but kept his car on track, eventually recording a fastest time of 1:33.211, placing him sixth initially before Q3 preparations shifted the standings.

Lando Norris was penalized with a €900 fine for speeding in the pit lane, a disruption that came as Hamilton and Charles Leclerc entered the final qualifying segment in third and fourth positions. Norris’s misfortune contrasted with the strong form of Liam Lawson, who, filling in for the injured Isack Hadjar, delivered a standout performance to secure a place in Q3 alongside Verstappen and Antonelli.

The drop zone in Q2 proved fatal for several high-profile drivers. Pierre Gasly, last week’s pole-sitter in Monza, was eliminated in 12th place, describing the car as feeling “completely different” from free practice. He was joined by Esteban Ocon, Alex Albon, Yuki Tsunoda, and Gabriel Bortoleto. Franco Colapinto secured the final Q3 spot for Alpine after a dramatic escape at the La Monumental corner, where he hit the ground but managed to keep the car under control.

In Q1, theeliminations included Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, and Sergio Pérez. Sainz was ruled out due to a blocking incident involving Valtteri Bottas, while Alonso exited alongside Lance Stroll and Arvid Lindblad. Lindblad, shaken by his earlier FP2 crash, fought back to set a competitive lap but ultimately fell short.

Antonelli continued to build momentum after leading both free practice sessions, reinforcing his 66-point championship lead over Russell. Toto Wolff acknowledged the unpredictability of the new venue, noting that the circuit demands precision with little margin for error. As Q3 gets underway, the Mercedes and Red Bull drivers will look to convert their pace into grid positions for a race where overtaking is expected to be difficult.