Norris edges Antonelli by 0.011 seconds to take first Madring pole

Lando Norris claimed pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix at Madrid's new Madring circuit, beating championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 0.011 seconds. The FIA's qualifying report confirmed that the McLaren driver completed his final Q3 lap in 1 minute 31.824 seconds, securing his third pole of 2026 and the 19th of his Formula 1 career.

The decisive run overturned a contest in which Lewis Hamilton had set the initial Q3 benchmark before Antonelli moved ahead. Norris was the last of the leading contenders to finish, and his improvement left the Mercedes driver second on 1:31.835. Max Verstappen qualified third for Red Bull, 0.140 seconds behind Norris, after also improving on his final attempt.

BBC Sport reported that Norris found 0.701 seconds between his two final-session laps despite making an error at the last corner. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella estimated that the mistake cost 0.35 seconds. Stella praised the precision of Norris' braking, corner entries, use of the kerbs and acceleration, saying the team's underlying performance had not suggested pole was within reach.

Norris told BBC Sport that almost every corner before the final turn had matched what he wanted from the lap. He said he then pushed too hard on entry and thought he was heading into the wall. He also explained that he does not use the dashboard lap-time comparison display relied on by many drivers, instead judging his progress through the feel of the car.

Hamilton finished fourth in qualifying, followed by Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc. George Russell was sixth, ahead of the second McLaren of Oscar Piastri, while Liam Lawson, Franco Colapinto and Arvid Lindblad completed the top 10. The FIA reported that Audi drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto missed the final session and qualified 11th and 12th respectively.

Norris' pole followed a disrupted Friday: BBC Sport reported that a gearbox problem had kept him out of almost all second practice. His previous poles this season came in Hungary and the Netherlands, where he went on to win both races.