Lando Norris secured pole position for the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring circuit with a narrow margin over Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. His lap time of 1m 31.824s marked his third pole of the 2026 season and the 19th of his career, highlighting a closely fought qualifying session.
The qualifying session on September 12, 2026, saw Norris edge out Antonelli by just 0.011 seconds, with Verstappen completing the top three. Lewis Hamilton briefly held provisional pole but ultimately qualified fourth, followed by Charles Leclerc and George Russell. Oscar Piastri, Norris’s McLaren teammate, secured seventh place. Notably, Audi drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto missed out on Q3, finishing 11th and 12th respectively.
The session was marked by multiple red flags and incidents that affected several drivers’ runs. Home favorites Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso were eliminated in Q1, with Sainz under investigation for impeding Valtteri Bottas. Haas driver Ollie Bearman and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll did not participate due to car damage and technical issues. Norris described his pole lap as “one of the best” of his career, expressing both surprise and pride in his performance.
The Madring circuit hosted its first Formula 1® qualifying session with a competitive field including teams such as McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari, Audi, Alpine, Racing Bulls, Williams, Cadillac, Haas, and Aston Martin. The tight gaps between the top qualifiers underscored the level of competition in the championship.
Lewis Hamilton’s provisional pole showed Ferrari’s potential in qualifying trim, but he eventually settled for fourth place behind Norris, Antonelli, and Verstappen. The session also highlighted challenges for Audi, with both of their drivers missing out on the final qualifying segment. Meanwhile, local drivers Sainz and Alonso faced early exits, adding to the drama of the day.
Despite the interruptions and close margins, Norris’s performance stood out. His final lap was a decisive moment, securing pole by a fraction of a second and setting the stage for the first Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring. The race is scheduled to start at 15:00 local time on Sunday, following a weekend that has already seen intense competition and unpredictability in qualifying.