70 years of F1 in Barcelona Fangio's bet and Ecclestone's call
Spanish GP Starting Grid
Nikita Mazepin A danger on and off the circuits
Free Practice 3 Classification and times
He didn't even need the last bullet to secure another milestone in his legend.
Lewis Hamilton
signed his hundredth
pole
in Montmeló
(1: 16.741) ahead of
Max Verstappen
and
Valtteri Bottas
, again powerless against the great sovereign of F1. The euphoria of the seven-time champion in front of
Pedro de la Rosa's
microphone
was totally justified. Those 36 thousandths of a margin over the Red Bull leader propels him further to a fifth consecutive win in Barcelona. Sunday is also presented with enough incentives for
Carlos Sainz
and
Fernando Alonso
, sixth and tenth on the grid.
The Spaniards do not finish finding the point to the qualifications of Saturdays, because one more week they were surpassed by their garage companions. Sainz handed a tenth against
Charles Leclerc
, fourth classified, while Alonso lost six tenths in his
heads up
with
Esteban Ocon
, fifth. Alpine and Ferrari were at least favored by the slip of
Sergio Pérez
, author of another mistake when stepping on the gravel at Turn 13.
A lot of pressure still needs to be taken off the Mexican, aboard a capable RB16 he must fight on Sunday in the hands of
Mad Max
.
However, the one who seems shot to victory the most is Hamilton, who smashes the records with offensive naturalness.
14 years have passed since that first 'pole' in Canada 2007 until this sunny Barcelona Saturday, but the seven-time champion has yet to find an opponent worthy of the name within one lap.
Doubts with the medium
In these struggles, with no time to lose, Alonso is improving. Very little by little. Because in his first attempt in Q3 he already delivered a second against Ocon's superb time (1: 17.580). At the last minute he could polish it four tenths, although they did not help him to leave the tenth place. Sainz, meanwhile, could not improve his initial time (1: 18.526). Leclerc, on the edge with premiere footwear, turned a classification that until then seemed to smile at the Madrid.
On Sunday many questions will be elucidated, including what is the real difference between the soft compound and the medium.
Or how the latter will really perform on the asphalt of Montmeló, at a temperature of almost 42ºC.
If it's track, the reverse of what is usually its norm, Mercedes fitted the red tires in Q2.
If they needed an inducement, Verstappen quickly served them up with an intimidating chrono (1: 16.922).
In the raffle for the ticket for Q3, with eight involved in a margin of two tenths, Sainz and Alonso seemed well profiled.
The SF21 performed best in the fast corners of the second sector, right where the Alpine suffered the most.
In fact, while Ocon cleared his way, the Asturian faced a critical situation.
Eight thousandths against Vettel
Daniel Ricciardo
, although limping, beat his time when Fernando lagged behind in the second sector. Davide Brivio's wall only breathed easy when
Antonio Giovinazzi
passed the goal, but the advantage over
Sebastian Vettel
was encrypted in eight thousandths. The flapping of a hummingbird.
Initially,
Lando Norris
had run into too heavy traffic at the chicane, forcing him to try too hard.
However, the track improved so exponentially that the Briton was able to certify his pass with the best time (1: 17.821).
The great victim of that Q1 was
Yuki Tsunoda
, very upset all weekend, perhaps because he did not get the accounts in his comparison against
Pierre Gasly
.
Not to mention
Nikita Mazepin
, seven tenths slower than teammate
Mick Schumacher
.
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Know more
Fernando Alonso
Sebastian Vettel
Formula 1
McLaren F1
sports
Mercedes gp
Lewis hamilton
Valtteri Bottas
Max verstappen
Red bull racing
Formula 1Alonso reacts bravely in another Hamilton lesson in Portimao
Formula 1 Verstappen also scares Mercedes almost blindly
Formula 1The best day of Carlos Sainz with Ferrari and the suffering of Fernando Alonso in Portimao
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