Norris quickest in opening practice for Spanish GP
Five days after his triumph in the Monaco Grand Prix, the 25-year-old Briton clocked a best lap in 1 minute 13.718 seconds to outpace the Dutchman by 0.367secs.
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc were third and fourth ahead of championship leader Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren and impressive rookie Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls.
With the track temperature rising close to 50 degrees Celsius and the air at 33, the session offered few clues as to any change in performance following the introduction of a new rule restricting front wing flexibility.
Piastri leads Norris by three points in the drivers' title race ahead of the ninth round of the 24-race season with Verstappen third, 22 points adrift, but seeking a fourth consecutive victory on one of favourite tracks.
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who was 13th in his Aston Martin, launched an impassioned defence, meanwhile, of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya which appears set to be ditched after 33 years of hosting the Spanish Grand Prix.
A new street circuit in Madrid is expected to be confirmed soon as host of the 2026 edition.
"I don't think that we will lose Barcelona, that's my opinion and my wish as well," said Alonso who is an ambassador for Barcelona F1.
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France 24
7 hours ago
- France 24
Piastri outpaces Norris in 'mega' McLaren to grab Spanish GP pole
The 24-year-old Australian, who leads Norris by three points in the drivers' championship, clocked a final lap in one minute 11.546 seconds to beat Norris by two-tenths of a second, the biggest winning pole margin this year. It brought him his fourth pole this season and fourth of his career and set up the two McLaren men as clear favourites for Sunday's race — 31 of the 34 Spanish Grands Prix to date having been won by a car starting on the front row. "It's been a good weekend so far. It didn't start off in the best way. We were struggling a little last night, but we found some pace and the car has been mega," said Piastri. "I feel like I was able to put in some fast laps as well so thank you to the team for all the hard work. This was a pretty miserable scene 12 months ago so to have turned it around in the best way is a great result." Piastri was 10th on the grid last year after having a qualifying lap deleted when he ran off into a gravel trap and finished seventh in the race. "Oscar drove very well," said Norris, who pushed hard to take pole in the final qualifying session. "I think the pace is definitely there, but for just a couple of little mistakes. Oscar has been driving very well all weekend. It's a good result for the team and an interesting start for tomorrow. "Hopefully, it's an easy race for me. It's a long run down into turn one, which is normally interesting. We've got a lot of quick guys behind us and we won't count them out. It's a good result for today." Four-time world champion Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull ahead of Mercedes' George Russell, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari and Kimi Antonelli in the second Mercedes. 'Tough to beat' Charles Leclerc was seventh in the second Ferrari ahead of Alpine's Pierre Gasly, RB's impressive rookie Isack Hadjar and local hero two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin. "I think we were lacking all weekend compared to McLaren, but I think we executed well and I think that third position is where we should be," said Verstappen. "I think it's quite close behind as well so it's fun around here squeezing everything out the car. "I will try my best. They will be tough to beat but we will see what we can do." The McLaren duo went into a gripping qualifying having also topped all three practice sessions. After an early fast lap from Aston Martin's Lance Stroll in Q1, the big guns arrived in torrid heat with a track temperature of 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), and the air at 29, punishing conditions for tyres on a high-degradation track. The session was briefly stalled when Alpine's Franco Colapinto stopped in the pitlane and, after a delay, forced others to undertake him leading to a frantic final two minutes. Yuki Tsunoda in the second Red Bull was eliminated in 20th and last place along with Colapinto, Williams' Carlos Sainz – his worst qualifying result at his home event – in 18th, Esteban Ocon of Haas and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg. For Tsunoda, it was a major setback as he sought to solve Red Bull's dilemma in searching for a partner to push Verstappen. Out in Q2 went Alex Albon of Williams, Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto, Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson, Stroll and Oliver Bearman in his Haas, leaving the way clear for McLaren's to sparkle in the Spanish sunshine.
France 24
8 hours ago
- France 24
Piastri outpaces Norris to grab Spanish GP pole
The championship leader clocked a near flawless final lap of one minute and 11.546 seconds to beat Norris by 0.209 seconds as McLaren claimed a dominant one-two having also topped all three practice sessions. Four-time world champion Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull ahead of Mercedes' George Russell, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari and Kimi Antonelli in the second Mercedes. Charles Leclerc was seventh in the second Ferrari ahead of Alpine's Pierre Gasly, Racing Bulls' impressive rookie Isack Hadjar and local hero two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin. It was Piastri's fourth pole of the season and career as he seeks to extend his three-point lead ahead of Norris in the drivers' championship. "Nice work, very nicely done, everyone," said the cool 24-year-old Australian on team radio. "That's quite some turnaround from last year. Well done everyone. Let's have some fun tomorrow!" He added: "I'm very glad to be on pole here and now I just need a good start. It's a long run to the first corner!" Norris said: "Oscar has driven really well and he deserved it. But it is a great result for the team." Piastri's two-second advantage is the biggest this season between pole and second place. After an early fast lap from Aston Martin's Lance Stroll in Q1, the big guns arrived in torrid heat with a track temperature of 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), and the air at 29, punishing conditions for tyres on a high-degradation track. The session was briefly stalled when Alpine's Franco Colapinto stopped in the pitlane and, after a delay, forced others to undertake him leading to a frantic final two minutes. Yuki Tsunoda in the second Red Bull was eliminated in 20th and last place along with Colapinto, Williams' Carlos Sainz – his worst qualifying result at his home event – in 18th, Esteban Ocon of Haas and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg. For Tsunoda, it was a major setback as he sought to solve Red Bull's dilemma in searching for a partner to push Verstappen. At the front, Piastri topped Verstappen and Norris. In Q2, McLaren's duo led the first runs ahead of Verstappen, Russell and a revived Hamilton before choosing not to take a second go as Hadjar shone, taking sixth and splitting the Ferraris. Out went Alex Albon of Williams, Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto, Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson, Stroll and Oliver Bearman in his Haas. The top 10 shootout began with Piastri lapping in 1:11.836 before Norris overhauled him by 0.017sec for provisional pole on the opening charge. Russell was third ahead of Leclerc, Verstappen and Hamilton before a late Alonso lap lifted him to fifth amid roaring appreciation. Cloud cover affected conditions for the second runs as both McLaren men fought for pole with the Australian prevailing.
