Sir Lewis Hamilton: From Stevenage to seven-time F1 world champion
The Formula 1 roadshow reaches Barcelona after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen survived a mid-race downpour to win the Monaco Grand Prix ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso last weekend.
The Dutchman now leads Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez in the drivers’ championship by 39 points after the Mexican had a disastrous, point-less weekend.
Fernando Alonso came second in Monaco and will be eyeing a 33rd F1 victory – and his first for 10 years – at his home race as the paddock takes to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the Spanish Grand Prix.
Verstappen set the early pace on Friday, topping both practice sessions in Barcelona, and topped the table once again in a rain-affected final practice. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton finished third in FP3 and will be eyeing an improved weekend in his revamped cars.
Follow all the action from Barcelona as the teams go through their final practice run and qualifying:
SPANISH GRAND PRIX
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Spanish Grand Prix: Verstappen takes pole!
Verstappen speaks having secured pole:
“The car was really good. Qualifying was really tricky with the weather but once it started to dry out, and in Q3, the car was on rails. It was really enjoyable to drive today.
“I love coming to Barcelona, I love the track, I love the fans – they love racing. I have a lot of great memories here and hopefully tomorrow we can have another one.”
(Getty Images)
Ben Fleming3 June 2023 16:19
Spanish Grand Prix: Full qualifying results
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
3. Lando Norris (McLaren)
5. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
6. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
8. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
9. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
10. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
Ben Fleming3 June 2023 16:17
Spanish Grand Prix: Not to be for Alonso
Alonso had plenty of work done to his Aston Martin car but he could only finish ninth in front of his home crowd.
Gasly sits in fourth but that could be subject to movement as he’s under investigation. Hamilton briefly had a spot in the top three but he has to settle with fifth heading into Sunday.
Ben Fleming3 June 2023 16:15
Verstappen takes pole!
A huge time for Verstappen is unable to be bested by any of the other drivers and he takes pole with a time of 1:12.272! Blistering stuff from the reigning champ.
Carlos Sainz flies up to the second with his final lap to take a spot on the front row and what about Lando Norris! There are plenty of celebrations in the McLaren pit after a fantastic qualifying performance from the Brit sees him in third.
Ben Fleming3 June 2023 16:13
Spanish Grand Prix: Q3 Qualifying
Hulkenberg moves up into the front row and he sits just under a second behind Verstappen. Alonso the only driver yet to register a Q3 time.
Ben Fleming3 June 2023 16:07
Spanish Grand Prix: Q3 Qualifying
Norris isn’t in second for long as Hamilton shoots up alongside Verstappen with a 1:13.196. Hugely impressive stuff from the Brit considering the collision that occurred with Russell right at the end of Q2.
Ben Fleming3 June 2023 16:03
Spanish Grand Prix: Q3 Qualifying
1:12.272 from Verstappen! Wow, that will be hard to beat. Lando Norris maintains second with a 1:13.544 but a massive 1.3 second margin between the pair.
Ben Fleming3 June 2023 16:02
Q3 underway!
Verstappen leads as we enter the final ten minutes of qualifying – he’s searching for his first pole in Barcelona. Norris sits in second with Sainz in third as things stand.
Ben Fleming3 June 2023 16:00
Spanish Grand Prix: Q2 Qualifying
Alongside Perez and Russell, Q2 sees the elimination of Zhou Guanyu, Nyck De Vries and Yuki Tsunoda.
Ben Fleming3 June 2023 15:55
Russell and Hamilton colide
Wow! Replays show George Russell and Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes teammates – coming together on the final lap. It doesn’t appear that Russell knew Hamilton was there but there looks like there is damage on the latter’s car.
“That’s really dangerous,” Hamilton says over the team radio.
Ben Fleming3 June 2023 15:53