Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Lando Norris Takes Pole at Madrid’s First Spanish Grand Prix
Lando Norris drove the fastest lap in qualifying for the first Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid.
This means he will start the race from the best position, called pole position.
His final lap took 1 minute and 31.824 seconds.
Kimi Antonelli was almost as fast and will start second.
Max Verstappen will start third.
Norris’s teammate Oscar Piastri will start seventh.
Spanish drivers Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso did not get past the first qualifying stage.
Oliver Bearman and Lance Stroll could not take part in qualifying because of car-related issues or a penalty.
The race may be difficult for overtaking, so the start and team strategies could be very important.
Lando Norris secured pole position for the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at Madrid’s new Madring circuit.
Norris set a 1m 31.824s lap, edging Kimi Antonelli by one hundredth of a second.
Max Verstappen qualified third, while Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and George Russell followed.
Oscar Piastri qualified seventh, with Liam Lawson, Franco Colapinto and Arvid Lindblad completing the top 10.
Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso were eliminated in Q1, while Oliver Bearman and Lance Stroll did not participate in qualifying.
- Who
- McLaren driver Lando Norris took pole position ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen.
- What
- Norris set the fastest qualifying time for the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix.
- When
- Qualifying took place on Saturday, with the race scheduled for Sunday; the articles do not provide a calendar date.
- Where
- The 5.4-kilometer Madring urban circuit in Madrid, Spain.
- Why
- Norris produced a 1m 31.824s final qualifying lap, narrowly beating Antonelli.
Norris’s Pole Advantage
Antonelli’s Race Challenge
Importance of the start
Norris’s Pole Advantage
Norris starts first after producing what he described as one of the best laps of his career, giving McLaren the initial track-position advantage.
Antonelli’s Race Challenge
Antonelli said the start would be very important because overtaking is expected to be difficult at the Madring.
Race strategy
Norris’s Pole Advantage
Norris’s position could allow him to control the pace if he makes a clean start and avoids pressure from behind.
Antonelli’s Race Challenge
Antonelli said drivers may need to pressure the car ahead, force a mistake and use strategy because passing may be limited.
- Pole position
- Lando Norris
- Qualifying time
- 1m 31.824s
- Second place
- Kimi Antonelli
- Third place
- Max Verstappen
- Norris season poles
- Three
- Norris career poles
- 19
- Circuit length
- 5.4 kilometers (3.3 miles)
- Spanish Grand Prix return
- The Madrid region is hosting the race for the first time in 45 years
