Oscar Piastri grabs Spanish GP pole ahead of Norris and Verstappen
Oscar Piastri Secures Pole Position for Spanish Grand Prix in Dominant McLaren Display
BARCELONA, Spain — Championship leader Oscar Piastri delivered a stunning performance to secure pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix, beating teammate Lando Norris in a thrilling qualifying session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Piastri clocked a blistering 1:11.546 in the dying moments of Q3, edging Norris by 0.2 seconds and locking out the front row for McLaren. The result showcases McLaren’s dominance this season, despite pre-weekend concerns about a potential setback from new technical regulations targeting front wing designs.
Norris had held the advantage after the first runs in Q3, outpacing Piastri by a mere 0.017 seconds. However, the Briton couldn’t better his initial time during the final outing. Meanwhile, Piastri’s spectacular lap not only secured the pole but also sent a clear message to his teammate and championship rival heading into Sunday’s race.
"Nice work, very nicely done," Piastri said over the team radio. "Quite some turnaround from last year, so well done everyone. Let's have ourselves some fun tomorrow."
Norris, who continues to push hard in the title race after closing the gap to just three points with his victory in Monaco last weekend, praised his teammate’s effort:
"Couple of little mistakes, but just didn't do it," Norris admitted post-session. "But Oscar was driving well all weekend." Looking ahead to the start of the race, he added: "An interesting start [coming] tomorrow."
Piastri vs. Norris: A Championship Battle Brewing
The duel between Piastri and Norris is quickly shaping up to define this year’s championship, and the tension on track was palpable. During Q3, Piastri avoided giving Norris a potential slipstream advantage by deliberately moving off the racing line as Norris approached on a hot lap. The exchange, picked up on team radio, saw Piastri quip:
"Cheeky."
Behind the McLaren duo, the battle for "best of the rest" was equally compelling. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ George Russell posted identical times of 1:11.848, with Verstappen being credited with third and Russell fourth based on earlier lap counts.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton secured fifth, outpacing his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc for just the second time this season. Leclerc will start seventh, with Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli splitting the Ferraris in sixth.
Pierre Gasly and rookie Isack Hadjar put together impressive laps to claim eighth and ninth for Alpine, continuing their strong runs in qualifying. Meanwhile, veteran Fernando Alonso gave the Spanish fans something to cheer about, making it to Q3 and securing a 10th-place start for Aston Martin.
Hadjar Shines While Others Struggle
Hadjar’s rise as one of the sport’s promising talents has been the subject of widespread praise throughout the paddock. The Frenchman’s accomplishment stood in stark contrast to Yuki Tsunoda’s struggles. The Red Bull driver will start dead last, failing to make it out of Q1. Tsunoda was audibly frustrated during the session, saying over the radio:
"Wow, honestly, I mean ... that was a pretty clean lap."
Fellow strugglers included Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, who continued his disappointing run since debuting in place of Jack Doohan. Colapinto will start 19th, one spot ahead of Tsunoda.
Turn 1: The Stage Set for Fireworks
With McLaren’s dominance evident in qualifying, the stage is set for another intense battle between teammates Piastri and Norris. The result in Barcelona could have major implications on the championship standings, with both drivers pushing their limits to gain an edge.
As Norris hinted, Turn 1 is likely to be the venue for fireworks when the lights go out. Buckle up for what promises to be a thrilling Spanish Grand Prix!
Up Next
