Lando Norris delivered a standout performance to claim pole position for McLaren at the Spanish Grand Prix, narrowly defeating Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in the final moments of qualifying.
Speaking after the session, an elated Norris described his winning lap as “gorgeous,” believing it may be among the best of his career. He secured the top spot by a mere 0.011 seconds over championship leader Antonelli, while Verstappen trailed by 0.140 seconds. All three drivers finished ahead of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who started as the top qualifier after the first runs in the final session but ultimately fell back.
Norris’s pole was a surprise given his earlier struggles; he had qualified fifth in the opening session and seventh in the second, sitting 0.449 seconds off Hamilton’s pace after the initial Q3 runs. The Briton credited his success to a moment of perfect focus. “One of those laps when everything came together… my brain let me do it almost perfect,” Norris said. “I was in that flow state. I was pretty much perfect apart from the last corner, where I thought I was in the wall.”
Struggling in Q1 and Q2 then snatching pole? I’ve seen some incredible comebacks, but this one is special for sure.
That 0.011 second gap is absolutely insane! Norris must have been sweating bullets until the final sector.