Spanish GP starting grid changes after Sainz penalty: Alonso moves up at Madring

News Summary

• Carlos Sainz drops from 17th to 20th on the Spanish GP starting grid after receiving a three-place penalty.
• Fernando Alonso moves to 17th, Sergio Pérez to 18th and Valtteri Bottas to 19th as a result.
• Lando Norris remains on pole alongside Andrea Kimi Antonelli, with Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton on the second row.

The starting grid for the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix has changed after the FIA handed Carlos Sainz a three-place penalty following qualifying at Madring.

Sainz had qualified 17th for his home race but will now start 20th after the stewards ruled that the Williams driver unnecessarily impeded Valtteri Bottas at Turns 6 and 7 during Q1. The penalty promotes Fernando Alonso to 17th, Sergio Pérez to 18th and Bottas to 19th.

The front of the grid is unaffected. Lando Norris took the first Formula 1 pole position in Madring history after beating Andrea Kimi Antonelli by just 0.011s, while Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton secured the second row.

The Sainz decision is particularly significant because it changes the order among four cars at the back of the grid.

The stewards heard from Sainz and Bottas as well as representatives from Williams and Cadillac before reviewing video, timing information, team radio and onboard footage.

According to the FIA decision, Williams failed to inform Sainz that Bottas was approaching on a flying lap. Sainz therefore did not take action to make way, and the stewards determined that car #55 had unnecessarily impeded car #77.

The infringement was judged to be a breach of Article B4.1.1 of the FIA Formula 1 Regulations, resulting in a three-place grid drop for the next race in which Sainz participates — Sunday’s Spanish GP.

Sainz’s penalty does not simply move the Williams back three nominal positions. Because he was originally 17th, the drivers immediately behind him each gain one place: Alonso goes from 18th to 17th, Pérez from 19th to 18th and Bottas from 20th to 19th.

Ollie Bearman and Lance Stroll remain behind that group after neither recorded a qualifying time. Bearman missed qualifying because Haas could not repair his car following his heavy FP3 crash.

The change adds to a difficult home weekend for Sainz, who had already been eliminated in Q1. Williams team-mate Alexander Albon progressed to Q2 and will start 16th.

At the other end of the field, Norris heads an exceptionally tight leading group. His 1:31.824 secured pole by only 0.011s over championship leader Antonelli, while Verstappen was 0.140s away from pole.

Hamilton recovered from his FP3 crash to qualify fourth, ahead of Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc. George Russell starts sixth, followed by Oscar Piastri, Liam Lawson, Franco Colapinto and Arvid Lindblad.

The updated order means the two Spanish drivers will line up close together for Formula 1’s first race at Madring, but in the opposite order to qualifying: Alonso is now 17th, while Sainz falls three places behind him to 20th.

Updated 2026 Spanish GP starting grid