McLaren’s Oscar Piastri set a stunning pole position from team-mate Lando Norris at the Spanish Grand Prix.
The Australian beat Norris by 0.209 seconds, vaulting himself ahead of the Briton -who had been faster on the first runs in final qualifying but made an error on his last lap.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was third fastest, 0.302secs slower than Piastri.
Mercedes driver George Russell set exactly the same lap time as the Dutchman but will start fourth because he set it a few seconds later.
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton beat team-mate Charles Leclerc for only the second time in a grand prix qualifying session this year to take fifth, ahead of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli.
Leclerc, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Racing Bulls’ Iscak Hadjar and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso completed the top 10.
Piastri’s advantage suggests that a rule change aimed at restricting the flexing of front wings for aerodynamic gain has had no effect on McLaren.
It was introduced by governing body the FIA after intensive lobbying by Red Bull, who – along with Ferrari – hoped it would peg back some of McLaren’s performance.
More to follow
Leave a Reply