Spanish GP Qualifying: Max Verstappen seizes pole position
Max Verstappen emerged as the frontrunner in the Spanish GP Qualifying, securing pole position. Carlos Sainz secured a spot on the front row, followed by Lando Norris in third
Rain, spins and drama in Q1
During the first segment of qualifying, the damp weather conditions set a challenging scenario for the competitors.
Valtteri Bottas spun his Alfa Romeo into the gravel, prompting a red flag and halting the proceedings.
Meanwhile, the other contenders had their share of mishaps, with Alex Albon (Williams), Nyck de Vries (AlphaTauri), and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) all spinning off the track.
Amidst these challenging circumstances, Verstappen set an early pace at 1m13.615s.
However, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) was able to topple Verstappen, showcasing his driving prowess and lapping in a swift 1m12.937s.
Charles Leclerc grappled with rear tyre issues, a struggle evident in his laboured qualifying lap.
His initial flying lap fell short of expectations, intensifying the necessity to secure a Q2 berth in the session's final moments.
Despite the pressure, Leclerc's efforts only saw him place 19th. In contrast, his teammate, Carlos Sainz, confidently sailed into fourth position.
What happened in Q2
Verstappen clawed his way back to the top in Q2, setting the pace with a lap of 1m12.760s, narrowly edging out Lando Norris (McLaren).
Meanwhile, his Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez, was having a rough ride, struggling to find his rhythm and ended up being knocked out from the top 10.
A remarkable incident was the collision between the Mercedes cars while attempting to pass Sainz’s Ferrari.
What happened in Q3
In the final segment of qualifying, Verstappen displayed the strength of his Red Bull, lapping in 1m12.272s, showcasing a clear advantage over the competition.
Even on the final runs, there was no catching the Dutchman, as he solidified his pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix.
Sainz fought valiantly to clinch second place, followed closely by Norris.
In the following positions came Pierre Gasly, Hamilton, Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), Esteban Ocon (Alpine), Nico Hulkenberg (Haas), Alonso, and Oscar Piastri (McLaren).
Comments ()