With a sensational lap, McLaren driver Lando Norris clinched pole from championship leader Kimi Antonelli in qualifying for the 2026 F1 Spanish GP.
Throughout the weekend, McLaren struggled for pace, with Norris having to sit out FP2 due to gearbox issues. As a result, the Briton’s chances of scoring a big result at the inaugural race around the Madrid Circuit didn’t look all that promising. Even in Q1 and Q2, the McLaren driver didn’t look like a prime candidate for pole, but in the end, it all came together in Q3, where, on his final run, Norris claimed pole by the slightest of margins.
In the official press conference after qualifying for the 2026 Spanish GP, Norris was pleased with the lap that saw him take pole by 0.011 seconds over championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
“It’s a secret! I don’t know,” Norris said in jest, after being asked how he managed to put his pole lap together.
Norris on the challenges in qualifying
Recalling how he had to play “catch-up” after facing gearbox issues that prevented him from participating in the second practice session for the 2026 F1 Spanish GP, Norris explained that he struggled most with hitting the “limit” of car performance prior to qualifying.
“I mean, I’ve been having a good feeling. Of course, I didn’t get any laps in FP2 yesterday, so I’ve been playing a little bit of catch-up, and there was just a good amount of corners where I kind of knew exactly what I wanted to do.
“So, whether it was the first chicane or the second chicane, it’s just a couple of corners where I kind of knew what the limit was. I just was struggling to get there and just kind of push into it as much as what I wanted before in qualifying.”
“Perfect lap” earns Norris pole in 2026 F1 Spanish GP qualifying
In the end, it worked out for the reigning champion, who managed to improve by over half a second on his second run, right when it counted, which he was “proud” of, calling the lap that earned him pole position for the 2026 F1 Spanish GP “perfect.”
“And the last lap, I mean, I improved, what, like seven, seven and a half tenths in one lap. So that’s not something to be proud about, but the fact I still did it in Q3, when it kind of matters most, is the thing I should be proud about.
“So, it was just a perfect lap. Really, until that point, every corner I did what I wanted to do, and I kind of planned out what to do. By the last corner, I just had a bit of a, I don’t know, a little moment. I think I got a bit excited in the car and I just over-pushed the entry and, honestly, I thought I was in the wall.
“So, luckily a short run to Turn 1. But the lap really was just perfect, from good exits, good kerbs, just getting all the little things that are very important around here correct. And I did that only on my last lap, and it all worked out.”
Everyting came together for Norris’ stunning Q3 lap
To avoid distractions, Norris’ steering wheel does not show the time delta, meaning he does not know whether he is improving on his own time. Although he didn’t know he was on a lap that was a significant improvement on his first run in Q3, the McLaren felt he was on a good run, as he felt everything come together.
“Seven tenths’ worth? I don’t know. I’m not sure. I certainly knew my Turn 1, Turn 2 was good, better at least, and maybe half a tenth, could say a little bit more, but maybe a tenth. The chicane was just the first time I got it right.
“I was just always a bit cautious, and I think at times, sometimes when you’re more cautious, it almost is worse in terms of the kerb riding. So, I kind of just hoped for the best in some ways, and things came together.
“And obviously, I’m able to see the speed, so I’m able to see when I’m a little bit better in terms of exit or straight-line speed, and I could just feel it.
“I don’t need my delta. I can feel when I do what I need to do and when I get a good exit, when I’m on the limit of things.
“When I’m kind of a bit uncomfortable in corners is normally when it’s going pretty well. So, I could feel it and I feel like I just made all the right things. My feet were doing what I wanted, and that’s normally when things are going well.”
Grip-levels and track evolution played a big role in qualifying
With the Madring Circuit, a brand-new track, track evolution was expected to be high over the 2026 F1 Spanish GP weekend, particularly in qualifying, where grip levels were expected to increase. With that in mind, Norris said it was a challenge to anticipate the ideal moment to hit the track in qualifying for the Spanish GP, as heading out too early could have meant losing out to track evolution, but running late posed a threat if the session was disrupted.
“I think a reasonable amount. It’s hard to put a number on those kinds of things, but, you know, it’s a new track and in qualifying things are always going to progress, especially from Q1 onwards.
“So, there’s a little bit of, “Do we try and go out as late as possible to try and have the best track?” You obviously can get some yellow flag risk and things like that.”
Final run in Q3
In Q3, McLaren chose the right moment, enabling Norris to extract the maximum from the car for the first time in this 2026 F1 Spanish GP weekend, particularly after he missed out on running in FP2.
“So, we went out in a good position, just clean out-lap, my first one of the whole weekend. I could get the tyres in a good window and things, and everything just really came together from then on.
“It’s been difficult because there’s so many things to learn and to take on board. With the lack of running yesterday, it certainly puts you a little bit on the back foot, but I caught up in the end, and that was what’s most important.”
Norris eyes late night preparing for the 2026 F1 Spanish GP
Coming back to the gearbox issues, that saw him miss out on running in the second practice session and thus losing out on collecting valuable long-run data for tomorrow’s race. In preparation for the 2026 F1 Spanish GP, Norris will thus consult the data gathered by McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri tonight to aid his race around the Madring Circuit tomorrow.
“A good amount. I’ve not done any running at high fuel yet, really. So, I’ve got to do my homework.
“I’ve got to see what Oscar did yesterday, see what we can prepare for.
“But it’s a long race, it’s a new track. You’ve got to know what corners to push, what corners not to push, all of these different things, what the battery’s then going to do.
“So, there’s a lot of stuff that I’ve got to spend my time doing tonight. So, it’s probably going to be a late one to try and get ahead of the game in some sorts.
“But the main part of the job was done today, so that’s the bit I’m most happy about.”
