Team Reactions: Qualifying at the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix

McLaren

Lando Norris proved he hadn't lost his edge despite skipping FP2, clinching his third pole of the season with what he described as a near-perfect lap. Oscar Piastri, however, lamented a 'messy session' and ended up seventh, noting that the car felt better in practice than in qualifying. Team Principal Andrea Stella praised Norris's 'World Champion level' lap but acknowledged that Piastri's potential wasn't fully realized.

Lando Norris, 1st, 1:31.824

"I'm incredibly proud of that lap. Everything just clicked. The car felt strong, I felt confident, and that final lap was as close to perfect as I've managed around this circuit."

Oscar Piastri, 7th, 1:32.294

"P7. I’m a bit disappointed with that one. It was a messy session and the car felt nicer in FP3 than in Qualifying."

Mercedes

Kimi Antonelli was a whisker away from pole, finishing just behind Norris after leading the disrupted FP3. George Russell had a promising start but ended up sixth, struggling with understeer. Toto Wolff expressed satisfaction with the team's pace but noted the challenges of overtaking at Madring.

Kimi Antonelli, 2nd, 1:31.835

"It was a very intense qualifying session. We did a good job, but Lando (Norris) and McLaren managed to snatch it away."

Red Bull

Max Verstappen secured third, a strong result considering Red Bull's uncertain form heading into qualifying. Liam Lawson settled for eighth after a less successful Q3. Team Principal Laurent Mekies highlighted the tight competition and the importance of strategy in Sunday's race.

Max Verstappen, 3rd, 1:31.964

"It was a very strong Qualifying from our side, and a top-three result is something we can be quite happy with."

Ferrari

Despite a crash in FP3, Lewis Hamilton put in solid laps to finish fourth, while Charles Leclerc was close behind in fifth. Team Principal Fred Vasseur noted the tight margins and the potential for a chaotic race.

Lewis Hamilton, 4th, 1:32.013

"P4 isn’t where I think we could have been, but there are positives to take from the session."

Alpine

Alpine's Franco Colapinto impressed by making it to Q3, while Pierre Gasly struggled and will start from 14th. Managing Director Steve Nielsen emphasized the need for focus in a race that could be unpredictable.

Racing Bulls

Arvid Lindblad reached Q3 despite missing much of FP3 due to repairs, while Yuki Tsunoda will start from 15th. Head of Trackside Engineering Mattia Spini acknowledged the challenges of the circuit.

Audi

Audi narrowly missed out on Q3, with Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto starting 11th and 12th. Racing Director Allan McNish was not too disappointed, given the team's performance amid tough competition.

Haas

Ollie Bearman's crash ended his day prematurely, while Esteban Ocon secured 13th, showing improvement with recent upgrades. Team Principal Ayao Komatsu remains optimistic about their race strategy.

Williams

Carlos Sainz's home race was marred by a penalty and qualifying issues, leaving him 20th. Alex Albon made it to Q2, a small victory after a challenging weekend.

Aston Martin

Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll faced difficulties, with Stroll not setting a time due to technical issues. The team's focus shifts to maximizing race opportunities.

Cadillac

Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas struggled with pace, finishing 19th and 20th, respectively. Team Principal Marcin Budkowski stressed the importance of clean execution in the race.

Pirelli

Dario Marrafuschi noted the strong performance of the Soft compound and outlined potential race strategies, emphasizing the impact of tire management and possible race interruptions.

Each team now turns its attention to the race, where strategy, tire management, and a bit of luck will play crucial roles in determining the final outcome at this challenging new venue.