***RacerViews coverage of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship was on hold so our team could enjoy some time away, please enjoy our post-session recaps before the 2024 British Grand Prix this weekend***
In what was an epic and tight battle, Lando Norris secured his second career pole Saturday afternoon ahead of championship leader Max Verstappen and the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. Last on pole in Sochi in 2021, Norris was unable to challenge Verstappen for most of the third qualifying session, but a knockout final lap knocked the Dutchman off the top step by a narrow two hundredths of a second.
HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the action from qualifying as Norris seals stunning pole for Spanish Grand Prix
Q1 Results:
As has become customary this season, Q1 provided yet another surprise as qualifying standout Yuki Tsunoda and teammate Daniel Ricciardo both failed to move on to Q2 despite the RB duo sporting a new upgrade package for the weekend. Further up the field, Lewis Hamilton set the pace late in the session, clocking a 1:12.143s lap as he leapt to the top of the time sheets ahead of the pair of Ferrari’s, Verstappen, and Norris.
Drivers out in Q1:
- 16th: Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
- 17th: Yuki Tsunoda (RB)
- 18th: Daniel Ricciardo (RB)
- 19th: Alex Albon (Williams)
- 20th: Logan Sargaent (Williams)
Q2 Results:
Lance Stroll was first to set the pace in Q2 but was soon absorbed into the midfield as Verstappen dropped a mega-quick 1:11.653s lap to lead the session from Norris, Sainz, Piastri, LeClerc, and Russell. In a surprise showing, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon held true and put their Alpines in the top 10 at the expense of both Aston Martin’s, who failed to convert to Q3. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton faced relegation to Q2 but was able to bounce back at the end of the session, going P2 behind Verstappen.
Drivers out in Q2:
- 11th: Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- 12th: Valtteri Bottas (Kick Sauber)
- 13th: Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
- 14th: Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
- 15th: Zhou Guanyu (Kick Sauber)
Q3 Results:
Verstappen led the way early in the final qualifying session as he held a minor lead over Norris and Hamilton as the field set out on their initial runs. The top spot seemed to be unchallenged for much of the session as final runs began to end with Verstappen improving on his already quick time, however, Lando Norris suddenly went purple and green in multiple sectors to shock the Dutchman as he went quickest of all and secured his second career pole.
Norris and Verstappen will lead the field from the front row as Hamilton – with his best start of 2024 – will start 3rd alongside George Russell. The Ferrari pair of LeClerc and Sainz will start 5th and 6th, respectively, ahead of Pierre Gasly in seventh. Sergio Perez, who originally qualified 8th, will serve a three-place grid penalty, dropping him to 11th for Sunday’s start as Ocon, Piastri, and Alonso will all be promoted up one place.
With Saturday’s running concluded it’s time for race day in Barcelona. Tune in live for all the action starting at 15:00 local time and check back here for our post race report.
Free Practice 1 Report – CLICK HERE
Free Practice 2 Report – CLICK HERE
Free Practice 3 Report – CLICK HERE
FORMULA 1 ARAMCO GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA 2024 Schedule
Date | Session | Time (Local Circuit) |
June 21st | Practice 1 | 13:30 – 14:30 |
Practice 2 | 17:00 – 18:00 | |
June 22nd | Practice 3 | 12:30 – 13:30 |
Qualifying | 16:00 – 17:00 | |
June 23rd | Race | 15:00 |
Qualifying Results:
POS | NO | DRIVER | CAR | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | LAPS |
1 | 4 | Lando Norris | MCLAREN MERCEDES | 1:12.386 | 1:11.872 | 1:11.383 | 12 |
2 | 1 | Max Verstappen | RED BULL RACING HONDA RBPT | 1:12.306 | 1:11.653 | 1:11.403 | 12 |
3 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | MERCEDES | 1:12.143 | 1:11.792 | 1:11.701 | 18 |
4 | 63 | George Russell | MERCEDES | 1:12.456 | 1:11.812 | 1:11.703 | 16 |
5 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | FERRARI | 1:12.257 | 1:12.038 | 1:11.731 | 12 |
6 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | FERRARI | 1:12.403 | 1:11.874 | 1:11.736 | 12 |
7 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | ALPINE RENAULT | 1:12.651 | 1:12.079 | 1:11.857 | 18 |
8 | 11 | Sergio Perez | RED BULL RACING HONDA RBPT | 1:12.477 | 1:12.054 | 1:12.061 | 18 |
9 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | ALPINE RENAULT | 1:12.691 | 1:12.109 | 1:12.125 | 18 |
10 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | MCLAREN MERCEDES | 1:12.460 | 1:12.011 | DNF | 16 |
11 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO MERCEDES | 1:12.505 | 1:12.128 | 12 | |
12 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | KICK SAUBER FERRARI | 1:12.758 | 1:12.227 | 12 | |
13 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | HAAS FERRARI | 1:12.708 | 1:12.310 | 12 | |
14 | 18 | Lance Stroll | ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO MERCEDES | 1:12.881 | 1:12.372 | 15 | |
15 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | KICK SAUBER FERRARI | 1:12.880 | 1:12.738 | 15 | |
16 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | HAAS FERRARI | 1:12.937 | 6 | ||
17 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB HONDA RBPT | 1:12.985 | 9 | ||
18 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | RB HONDA RBPT | 1:13.075 | 9 | ||
19 | 23 | Alexander Albon | WILLIAMS MERCEDES | 1:13.153 | 6 | ||
20 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | WILLIAMS MERCEDES | 1:13.509 | 9 |