Lando Norris denied Max Verstappen pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix by just two-hundredths of a second to go fastest in qualifying for just the second time in his F1 careerLando Norris speaks to the media after taking pole position Lando Norris admitted he needed his “best lap ever” to get the better of Max Verstappen in Barcelona.The Dutchman thought he had done enough to secure the front grid slot for the Spanish Grand Prix. But when Norris crossed the line at the very end of the session he shaved just enough off the Red Bull racer’s time to secure his second career Grand Prix pole.That was despite Verstappen benefitting from a tow from team-mate Sergio Perez down the long start-finish straight. Norris got no such help and so needed perfection to make up for it – and he smiled as he declared that was exactly what he had managed to achieve.
The McLaren driver said: “It feels great. Poles always feel good and this is the second one of my career. I’ve had two Sprint race poles but I don’t regard those at all… It was an amazing lap, my best by a long way.Win a £100 Amazon gift card, an Adidas Euro 2024 replica ball and £25 to spend at Just Eat in our fab giveawayLando Norris beats Max Verstappen to Spanish GP pole on dramatic day for McLaren”Max was a bit ahead in Q1 and Q2 and I knew I had to be perfect in Q3 to do it, and that’s exactly what I did. I’m pretty happy that I managed to probably pull off my best lap ever.”The Briton’s success means the last four F1 pole-sitters have all represented different teams.
After Verstappen was on top of the timesheets in Imola, Charles Leclerc wowed his home fans in Monaco for Ferrari while George Russell did the business two weeks ago in Montreal for Mercedes.The performance gap between the top teams is undoubtedly closing and Verstappen insists he and Red Bull are up for the challenge. The Dutchman, 26, said: “Now there are more teams and I think that’s good for Formula 1 in general. When it’s that close for pole position, it’s always great.
