In an electrifying showdown at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Lando Norris clinched pole position for the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix, edging out Max Verstappen in a dramatic final lap. Amidst a fierce battle involving Ferrari and Mercedes, it was Norris who shone brightest, securing the top spot on the grid for Sunday’s race.
As the qualifying session unfolded, it became clear that Verstappen and Norris would be the ones to watch. Verstappen seemed poised to take pole after finding a few more tenths in his final run. However, Norris stunned everyone with a blistering 1:11.383 lap time, outpacing Verstappen by a mere 0.02 seconds.
The second row will feature an all-Mercedes lineup, with Lewis Hamilton managing to outqualify George Russell for only the second time this season. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will line up ahead of his teammate and local favorite, Carlos Sainz, on the third row.
Completing the top ten are drivers who put in strong performances, with Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon from Alpine, alongside Oscar Piastri of McLaren and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
Sergio Perez, after receiving a three-place grid penalty in Canada, will start from row six with Valtteri Bottas of Sauber for company. Nico Hulkenberg of Haas and Lance Stroll from Aston Martin will occupy row seven, followed by Zhou Guanyu in the second Sauber and Kevin Magnussen of Haas.
Row nine is marked by both RB cars, with Yuki Tsunoda ahead of Daniel Ricciardo. At the back, Williams’ duo Alex Albon, who was relegated to the pit lane due to a change in Energy Store and Control Electronics, joins Logan Sargeant in rounding out the grid.
The stage is set for what promises to be a captivating race day at the Spanish Grand Prix. With Norris capturing pole position in such an intensive qualifying session, the spotlight will be on McLaren to see if they can convert their qualifying prowess into race day success. As the teams prepare for battle, fans are anticipating an exciting contest filled with strategic maneuvers and high-speed drama.
