Norris secures pole for inaugural Spanish Grand Prix as penalties reshuffle grid

Lando Norris earned pole position for the debut Spanish Grand Prix on the new Madring circuit in Madrid, finishing ahead of championship leader Kimi Antonelli. Antonelli will start near the front, avoiding the back-of-the-grid launch he faced at Monza, though overtaking may prove challenging on the temporary layout.

Qualifying proceeded without red flags, and most drivers completed their runs without incident. However, two penalties altered the provisional grid: Carlos Sainz was demoted three places for impeding Valtteri Bottas in the first qualifying segment, and Lance Stroll received a 40-place penalty after installing a brand-new Honda power unit that developed a water leak before he could set a time.

The adjusted starting order reflects these sanctions, positioning Norris on pole with Antonelli alongside, followed by the rest of the field after the penalties are applied.