Verstappen dominates Spain qualifying, Leclerc at 19th

Max Verstappen got a pole position for the Sunday Spanish Grand Prix with yet another dominant display on the Circuit of Catalunya. The whole qualifying session was filled with surprises, but the Dutchman was unmistakable and grabbed the first place in front of home favorite Carlos Sainz, who las 0.462 seconds slower. Third will be Lando Norris.

Verstappen’s main rival for the championship and team-mate Sergio Perez was knocked out in Q2 and will start from 11th tomorrow.

The qualifying started with a slight drizzle that managed to shake up a lot of cars, going out of track and into the gravel. It seemed like everyone was able to find the pace on the half dry – half wet surface, but Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc had massive problems and wasn’t able to put on a descent lap that left him second to last for the starting grid tomorrow.

Leclerc 📻: “We are out, right? Unbelievable.”

He is knocked out in Q1 for the first time since Monaco 2019! 😬#F1 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/g37IAElmWy

— Autosport (@autosport) June 3, 2023

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In Q2 the track remained very tricky and Mercedes and Red Bull lost one driver in the session. George Russell finished 12th while Sergio Perez left the track after a rear wheels slip and wasn’t able to go beyond 11th.

In the last part of qualifying Verstappen’s first flying lap was enough for the pole, while Hamilton lost his second place with bad second run and Carlos Sainz grabbed the place next to Max on the start.

MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKES POLE! #SpanishGP #F1 @Max33Verstappen pic.twitter.com/OoY0nkKQwf

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 3, 2023