News Summary
- Lando Norris took pole for the Spanish GP by just 0.011s over championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
- Norris celebrated immediately over the radio, calling the lap potentially his best and admitting: “That made me happy.”
- The result gives McLaren the first F1 pole position at the new Madring circuit after a difficult start to Norris’ weekend.
Lando Norris could barely hide his satisfaction after producing a last-gasp lap to beat Andrea Kimi Antonelli by only 0.011s and take pole position for the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix.
The McLaren driver delivered when it mattered in Q3, overturning Mercedes’ apparent advantage and becoming the first Formula 1 pole-sitter in Madring history. Antonelli had to settle for second despite missing out by only 11 thousandths of a second, while Max Verstappen secured third for Red Bull.
Norris immediately recognised the quality of the lap over the team radio.
“Oh, that might be my best one!” he said after crossing the line.
Once pole was confirmed, the reigning world champion added simply: “Oh… That made me happy.”
The result represents a remarkable turnaround from a difficult opening day for Norris in Madrid. He completed only two laps and failed to set a time in FP2 after McLaren encountered a gearbox problem, costing him valuable mileage at a circuit that is completely new to Formula 1.
While Antonelli led FP2 ahead of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, Norris spent almost the entire session in the McLaren garage. The Mercedes driver had set a 1:33.662 on Friday and remained among the leading contenders throughout Saturday.
Norris recovered in FP3 before facing another minor setback in qualifying when he was caught speeding in the pit lane. The Briton was recorded at 88.5 km/h against the 80 km/h limit, earning McLaren a €900 fine but no sporting penalty.
None of that prevented him from delivering in Q3.
Antonelli appeared poised to continue Mercedes’ strong Madrid weekend, but Norris found enough on his final attempt to move ahead by the smallest of margins. The 0.011s gap underlined how little separated McLaren and Mercedes when the decisive laps arrived.
The pole is particularly significant because track position is expected to matter at Madring. Drivers spent Friday highlighting the circuit’s narrow sections and limited overtaking opportunities, making Norris’ victory in qualifying potentially valuable for Sunday’s race.
It also gives McLaren an opportunity to challenge a Mercedes team that has controlled much of the 2026 season. Antonelli arrived in Madrid with 267 points and a 66-point championship lead over George Russell, while Norris sits fourth on 171. The current championship order is listed by GRANDE PRÊMIO ahead of the Spanish GP.
For Norris, however, the immediate reaction was less about championship mathematics and more about the satisfaction of producing a lap when there was no margin left.
Eleven thousandths separated him from Antonelli — and made Norris the answer to a new piece of Formula 1 history: Madring’s first pole-sitter.
F1 2026: Spanish GP qualifying results
| Pos. | Driver | Team/Engine | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | L. NORRIS | McLaren Mercedes | 1:31.824 | — |
| 2 | A. K. ANTONELLI | Mercedes | 1:31.835 | +0.011s |
| 3 | M. VERSTAPPEN | Red Bull Ford | 1:31.964 | +0.140s |
| 4 | L. HAMILTON | Ferrari | 1:32.013 | +0.189s |
| 5 | C. LECLERC | Ferrari | 1:32.019 | +0.195s |
| 6 | G. RUSSELL | Mercedes | 1:32.149 | +0.325s |
| 7 | O. PIASTRI | McLaren Mercedes | 1:32.294 | +0.470s |
| 8 | L. LAWSON | Red Bull Ford | 1:32.316 | +0.492s |
| 9 | F. COLAPINTO | Alpine Mercedes | 1:32.903 | +1.079s |
| 10 | A. LINDBLAD | Racing Bulls Ford | 1:33.041 | +1.217s |
| 11 | N. HÜLKENBERG | Audi | 1:33.223 | +1.399s |
| 12 | G. BORTOLETO | Audi | 1:33.388 | +1.564s |
| 13 | E. OCON | Haas Ferrari | 1:33.667 | +1.843s |
| 14 | P. GASLY | Alpine Mercedes | 1:33.753 | +1.929s |
| 15 | Y. TSUNODA | Racing Bulls Ford | 1:34.084 | +2.260s |
| 16 | A. ALBON | Williams Mercedes | 1:35.532 | +3.708s |
| 17 | C. SAINZ | Williams Mercedes | 1:35.312 | +3.488s |
| 18 | F. ALONSO | Aston Martin Honda | 1:35.388 | +3.564s |
| 19 | S. PÉREZ | Cadillac Ferrari | 1:35.913 | +4.089s |
| 20 | V. BOTTAS | Cadillac Ferrari | 1:38.011 | +6.187s |
| 21 | O. BEARMAN | Haas Ferrari | No time | — |
| 22 | L. STROLL | Aston Martin Honda | No time | — |
FAQ
Who took pole position for the 2026 Spanish GP?
Lando Norris took pole position for McLaren, beating Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli by just 0.011s.
What did Lando Norris say after taking pole at Madring?
Norris celebrated over the team radio, saying: “Oh, that might be my best one!” He then added: “Oh… That made me happy.”
Who is the first F1 pole-sitter at Madring?
Lando Norris is the first Formula 1 driver to take pole position at Madring, which hosts its inaugural Spanish Grand Prix in 2026.
