Spanish GP: Piastri Stuns Norris to Snatch Sp….read more
Spanish GP: Piastri Stuns Norris to Snatch Sp….read more
Oscar Piastri secured a commanding pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix after fending off a late challenge from his McLaren teammate Lando Norris in what turned out to be a thrilling qualifying session. The Australian produced a sensational final lap in Q3, clocking a 1:11.546 to beat Norris by two-tenths of a second and claim the top spot on the grid.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Piastri, who had trailed Norris after the first Q3 runs. However, he responded under pressure with a flawless performance on his final lap, taking full advantage of the rapidly evolving track conditions. In doing so, he resisted an opportunistic attempt by Norris, who tried to grab a tow from his teammate in a move Piastri later described as “cheeky.” Despite the mind games and tactical maneuvering, it was Piastri who had the last word.
Max Verstappen was the closest challenger to the McLaren duo but still ended up third on the grid. The Dutch driver’s best effort fell short by over two-tenths, further underlining the dominant pace McLaren has shown throughout the weekend. Piastri had already set the tone earlier in the day by topping the timesheets in FP3, where he finished a staggering seven-tenths ahead of the nearest non-McLaren competitor.
The qualifying session began under blistering conditions, with the track temperature soaring to 48 degrees Celsius. Lance Stroll led the early charge out of the pits, aiming to get in a solid banker lap before the conditions worsened. He managed a 1:13.6, but his time was quickly overshadowed as the big names began to assert themselves.
George Russell, Lando Norris, and then Piastri each took turns at the top of the timing screens during Q1. Piastri’s early effort of 1:12.5 already signaled his intent, while Verstappen slotted in behind him, albeit still more than two-tenths adrift. As the session progressed, it became increasingly clear that McLaren had found a sweet spot with their setup for the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
The first major surprise of the day came when Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and RB’s Yuki Tsunoda were both eliminated in Q1, much to the disappointment of their teams and the home fans. The rising temperatures and changing grip levels caught several drivers out, but McLaren’s drivers thrived in the conditions, setting the stage for a front-row lockout and putting them in a strong position heading into Sunday’s race.
