Lando Norris, current world champion, has had the honor of inscribing his name as the author of the first pole in history at the Madring, in the return of Formula 1 to Madrid, 45 years after its last visit to Jarama.
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The Englishman, invisible on Friday, unable to run due to mechanical problems, crouched in the morning free practice (4th), surprised in the qualifying session by pulling off a last dizzying lap when a duel between Kimi Antonelli and the two Ferraris for the preferred starting position was expected.
Norris beat the World Championship leader by only 11 thousandths, a breath, who was aiming for his seventh pole of the season. And that despite Lando making a mistake in the last corners that cost him three tenths, according to his team.
“I’m very surprised, I’m in shock, it has been one of the best laps of my life; everything went well, my head let me do what I wanted, it’s one of those laps where you see the time and say: ‘Damn, that was pretty good.’ I felt confident, the car was good, it was perfect,” said the McLaren driver enthusiastically, who becomes one of the main candidates for victory on a track where drivers foresee great difficulties to overtake, like in Monaco.
“I have given myself the best chance for tomorrow, it won’t be easy to overtake, the race will be long and on a difficult circuit,” predicts the Englishman, who had been the winner of the consecutive races in Hungary and Zandvoort, before Antonelli impressed in Monza last week.
Q1
Russell snatched the best time from his teammate by only 56 thousandths; Alonso and Sainz were eliminated
When it came down to it, the first qualy at the Madring, only three brave ones, the two Ferraris and Verstappen, started with medium tires (yellow), all the others with softs to play it safe. It was Antonelli who initially led the timing sheet (1m33s566), but surprisingly was displaced from first place by Lawson with the Red Bull shaving 250 thousandths off the Italian, later supported by his teammate Verstappen, 65 thousandths behind. Mercedes responded with a new set of softs to retake the lead, 43 thousandths ahead of the New Zealander and 114 ahead of the Dutchman. And on the last lap George Russell knocked them all down with a great 1m33s211, the best time on the circuit.
Neither of the two Spaniards passed to Q2. Alonso could only be 18th, 2.177 seconds behind Russell, and Sainz, 17th, 2.101 seconds behind the English Mercedes driver, but only 5 thousandths off the cutoff time set by his teammate Alex Albon.
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Q2
Verstappen climbs to first place ahead of Antonelli and Hamilton
In the second session, it was Max Verstappen who took the prize by fitting the softest tires. The Dutchman showed off his good hands on such a demanding circuit by putting 160 thousandths on Kimi Antonelli and 279 on Hamilton, third. Fourth was Leclerc, followed by Lawson, while the McLarens did not appear, seventh Norris and ninth Piastri.
Surprisingly, the Alpine of Argentine Colapinto made it into the top 10, who put in a great lap, including a correction in the huge La Monumental corner.
Q3
Lando Norris surprised everyone with a stratospheric last lap that left Antonelli stunned
In the decisive Q3, all on soft tires, the spectacle of fast laps broke loose. Antonelli struck first with a superb 1m32s140, which was quickly matched by Hamilton’s Ferrari, lowering it by 61 thousandths and setting the time at 1m32s079. Third was Russell at 186 thousandths and fourth Leclerc at 206. Verstappen was fifth at 254. It was the quintet with pole chances.
On the second attempt, up to six drivers vied for the preferred position. When it seemed Antonelli would take the pole with a stratospheric 1m31s835, the first driver to go under 1m32s, out of nowhere, from the middle of the pack, appeared a Lando Norris who had not been seen and who was able to shave 11 thousandths off the Italian’s time.
The current world champion imposed his status with a superb 1m31s824. Third pole of the season for Lando, three in the last four grands prix, after those achieved in Hungary and the Netherlands, the 19th of his career.
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