Norris snatches Spanish GP pole from Verstappen

McLaren’s Lando Norris pipped Max Verstappen’s Red Bull to rod position astatine nan Spanish Grand Prix successful a gripping qualifying session.

Verstappen had appeared retired of scope erstwhile he improved his ain time, which was already fastest, by much than 0.2 seconds connected his last run.

But Norris crossed nan statement a fewer seconds later to hit Verstappen and return his first rod of nan year.

And Lewis Hamilton out-qualified team-mate George Russell for only nan 2nd clip this play arsenic nan Mercedes drivers took 3rd and fourth.

Their capacity underlined Mercedes’ re-emergence arsenic contenders adjacent to nan beforehand aft a bid of car developments arsenic they hit nan Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to 5th and sixth place, contempt an upgrade connected nan Italian cars.

Norris, for whom this was a 2nd profession rod and his first for 3 years, said: "It was beautiful overmuch a cleanable lap. You cognize erstwhile you’re connected a bully thigh and you’re getting excited. Close still but ace happy. I would opportunity my champion rod position. I’ve not had galore but I’d opportunity nan best.

"We person been speedy since Miami but missed retired connected rod by not doing a cleanable thigh and coming we did a cleanable lap."

Verstappen said: "The full play we person been trying to find a connected balance, I was rather happy successful qualifying. In Q3 I sewage a bully small tow from Checo (Perez) successful Turn One to extract everything we could but unluckily it was conscionable not enough. But each successful each we tin beryllium very happy pinch this."

Hamilton had near nan past title successful Canada saying he had to "start driving pinch my head" to get amended results.

He had not out-qualified Russell successful a qualifying convention for a expansive prix since nan Japanese title backmost successful April, and successful caller races had moreover expressed doubts whether he would beryllium capable to do truthful again.

But he recovered his shape again successful Spain and edged Russell retired by conscionable 0.002secs arsenic they completed their last laps 1 aft nan other.

Hamilton: "I’m really happy. It has been rather a difficult year. Huge magnitude of activity from everyone backmost astatine nan mill and yet we are seeing those incremental steps. I didn’t expect america to beryllium fighting for rod but we’re getting close."

Alpine’s Pierre Gasly impressed pinch eighth, up of different disappointing capacity from Sergio Perez successful nan 2nd Red Bull successful eighth.

The Mexican will commencement 11th arsenic a consequence of a three-place grid punishment for driving a damaged car astatine nan past title successful Canada.

Gasly’s team-mate Esteban Ocon was ninth up of nan 2nd McLaren of Oscar Piastri, who made mistakes connected some his laps and grounded to group a clip successful nan last qualifying session.