Usually quite poor in suspense, the Spanish Grand Prix promises to be particularly interesting this Sunday at Montmelo. Impressive at the start of the season, the undisputed leader of the World Championship Max Verstappen, winner of four of the first five races of the year, has been losing ground in recent weeks. Carlos Sainz (in Australia), Lando Norris (in Miami) and Charles Leclerc (in Monaco) all three invited themselves to the winners’ table and the three-time defending champion is now only 56 points ahead of his Monegasque rival .
A trend which was confirmed during qualifying, organized since Friday on the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit: as in Canada, where he was beaten by George Russell, Verstappen will not start in pole position. This honor will go to Norris, the McLaren driver having achieved the best lap in 1’11”383.
POLE FOR LANDO NORRIS! 🤯
The Briton is ahead of Max Verstappen by 20 thousandths! 😱
Followed by the Mercedes, the Ferraris and the Alpines (Ocon will start 8th after Sergio Perez’s penalty). #SpanishGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/fkaz6jpLDy
— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) June 22, 2024
“The others have caught up with us,” conceded Verstappen, who will start in second position this Sunday. We now have to work like crazy. »
Behind the two men, Lewis Hamilton will occupy third place on the grid at the start, just ahead of Russell, his Mercedes teammate. On the Alpine side, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, both present in Q3 for the first time this season, will start in 7th and 9th positions respectively.
The Spanish Grand Prix will be followed this Sunday, June 23 from 3 p.m. The race will be broadcast live on Canal +.
