The Barcelona classification It was one that is remembered for a long time. FP3 had left an incredible equality that was later also fulfilled in Q1 and especially in the final Q3. Max Verstappen seemed on his way to his 40th pole, but Lando Norris still had to say the last word, and beat him by 20 thousandths, to get his second pole position in the category after Russia 2021.
Although the sky over Montmeló was covered in clouds and without sun, the classification was dry. Verstappen revealed that he had Perez’s slipstream in his last attempt, but it was not enough to beat a McLaren F1 in top form. After Norris and Verstappen, who will be on the front row, the Mercedes will start, separated by two thousandths of a second although ultimately not so close to pole.
The Ferraris were finally on the next step, and Charles Leclerc qualified fifth, with Carlos Sainz sixth. For its part, Aston Martin Racing did not have the pace to keep up with its rivals, and despite a great lap, Fernando Alonso was eliminated in Q2, 19 thousandths away from making the cut.
Sergio Pérez qualified eighth, but the three-position sanction he carries from Canada will send him to eleventh place, and in fact allows Alonso to gain a place, who will start from the points zone. To make up for the battle and leave it at 1 vs 1 between Norris and Verstappen, Oscar Piastri made a mistake in Q3 and was unable to improve anyone’s time in that final round.
F1 2024 Spanish GP classification results
Summary of Q1 of the Spanish GP F1 classification
There was no great rush to get out onto the track when the green light came on to start qualifying, and only the drivers aware that they could be eliminated appeared on the asphalt instantly.
When the favorites came out, Verstappen surprised with a 1:12.306, but Norris was just 80 thousandths behind. Then, Leclerc improved Verstappen’s mark by 49 thousandths, showing the incredible equality that we had already seen in FP3. Sainz, for his part, was one tenth away (0.146s), with Russell at 0.199s. From there, everyone else was seven tenths behind.
After the first laps, Pérez was 10th and Alonso 11th, and RB, Zhou, Magnussenn and Sargeant were in the elimination zone. Stroll, who before qualifying had only been given a reprimand for his collision with Hamilton in Free Practice 3, was hindered by Sargeant, and all the drivers went through the pits before the second attempt.
As the track was improving a lot, the majority stayed in the pitlane until the best possible margin to go out and do a lap. Pérez rose to sixth place, and the Saubers followed him. Alonso climbed to ninth place, ahead of the two green cars, and nothing was decided until the end. Finally, the drivers who fell were the two Williams, Visa CashApp RB and Kevin Magnussen.
Summary of Q2 of the F1 Spanish GP classification
Lance Stroll, as in Q1, came out as soon as Q2 began. With just over 11 minutes left, almost everyone else came out, ready to have two tries if needed. Leclerc took the lead for a few moments, before Piastri improved on him, Sainz overtook the Australian and Norris, by two thousandths, beat Sainz. However, Verstappen slammed the table, giving everyone two tenths.
After the first laps, Alonso was 12th and Hamilton, with used tires, 13th. Once again, Stroll was the first driver to start the second round, and Hamilton, now with new riders, followed him.
Everyone began to improve, and Hamilton rose to second place, although all his rivals had yet to make their lap. Alonso improved his record, but it was not enough, and he fell to eleventh place, just 19 thousandths (0.019s) away from moving into Q3.
While Verstappen, Norris or Sainz did not start, Pérez finished eighth, and along with Alonso Valtteri Bottas, Nico Hulkenberg, Lance Stroll and Guanyu Zhou were eliminated.
