Lando Norris takes pole position in the historic debut of the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid
British McLaren star Lando Norris secured the top starting position for the highly anticipated debut of the Madrid semi-street circuit, the venue for the Spanish Grand Prix this Sunday. In an extremely tight qualifying session, Norris clocked a time of 1 minute, 31 seconds, and 824 milliseconds, thus achieving the nineteenth pole position of his professional Formula 1 career.
The difference on the track was minimal. The McLaren driver edged out Mercedes representative Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy by just 11 thousandths, who will start from second place. Antonelli, who currently leads the championship with a 66-point advantage over his teammate George Russell, will look to consolidate his privileged position during the race.
Precision was the key on a day where every thousandth defined the starting order for the debut of a track that promises intense emotions in the Spanish capital.
Verstappen on the prowl and a strong performance by Colapinto
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen, behind the wheel of his Red Bull, secured third place on the starting grid. The Dutchman will attempt to capitalize on this position to close the gap in the overall title race. Meanwhile, Argentine Franco Colapinto, an Alpine driver, had an outstanding performance by qualifying in ninth place, achieving one of his best results of the season, while rookie Arvid Lindblad will round out the top 10.
Challenges for locals and figures on the grid
The day did not turn out favorably for the local drivers. Both Carlos Sainz (Williams) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) were eliminated in Q1 and will have to fight their way up from the back of the grid, occupying the 17th and 18th positions respectively. The Mexican Sergio Pérez (Cadillac) also struggled in qualifying and will start the Grand Prix in 19th place.
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) will start the race from the seventh position.
- George Russell (Mercedes) will start from the sixth spot on the grid.
- Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, both from Ferrari, complete the list of favorites who will seek to conquer the new IFEMA circuit.
An unprecedented circuit for the history of motorsport
The race, scheduled for 57 laps, will cover a total distance of 308 kilometers. This event marks the official inauguration of the Madrid semi-urban circuit, an infrastructure designed specifically to integrate the Spanish capital into the premier class calendar, promising an unforgettable spectacle in its first official competition.
