Lando Norris secured pole position for the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix at the Madrid circuit, setting a time of 1:31.824. The official starting grid reflects a competitive lineup, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli alongside Norris on the front row. Max Verstappen will start third, followed by Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
The qualifying session highlighted strong performances across several teams. Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli claimed second place, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Mercedes’ George Russell will start sixth and seventh respectively. Liam Lawson, standing in for Red Bull, qualified eighth. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto notably outqualified his teammate Pierre Gasly by five positions, securing ninth place. Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad recovered from a crash to start tenth.
There are a few notable grid penalties and adjustments. Haas driver Ollie Bearman will start from the pit lane after a heavy crash in the final practice session required extensive car repairs. Lance Stroll of Aston Martin also starts from the back of the grid due to fitting new power unit components and not setting a qualifying time. Williams’ Carlos Sainz received a three-place grid penalty for impeding Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas during qualifying.
The race is scheduled to start at 15:00 local time on September 13, 2026, with live coverage beginning an hour earlier. The grid reflects a mix of established drivers and emerging talents, with McLaren and Mercedes showing strong qualifying pace. Red Bull’s Liam Lawson will be looking to make an impact from eighth, while Alpine’s Colapinto’s performance stands out among midfield contenders.
The adjustments to the grid due to penalties and incidents underline the challenges teams face in managing both performance and reliability. Bearman’s pit lane start is a reminder of the risks during practice sessions, while Stroll’s late power unit changes reflect ongoing technical developments within Aston Martin.
This official grid order sets the stage for the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, showcasing a competitive field with several drivers positioned to challenge in the race. The qualifying results and penalties provide a clear picture of the starting positions as the teams prepare for the event in Madrid.