P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lando Norris pinched pole position from Max Verstappen after a high-speed George Russell crash truncated qualifying before the final laps could be completed. Russell’s crash compounded a woeful aft…
Lando Norris secured pole position from Max Verstappen following a dramatic crash by George Russell during qualifying, cutting the session short. The unfortunate incident added to Mercedes’ troubles after Lewis Hamilton’s elimination from Q1. Verstappen initially seemed set for pole until Norris delivered an outstanding lap to snatch the position by 0.031s. Despite a strong start to his final run, Verstappen’s chances were dashed by Russell’s crash at Turn 19, allowing Norris to claim an unexpected pole. Norris expressed satisfaction with his performance and vowed to keep fighting for the championship, now trailing Verstappen by 54 points. Meanwhile, other notable performances included Carlos Sainz qualifying fifth for the sprint race and Charles Leclerc placing fourth.
