P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen was beaten to pole in Spain by Lando Norris, but Helmut Marko is relieved that the Dutchman is starting on the front row.
“Helmut Marko revealed where Lando Norris denied Max Verstappen Spanish Grand Prix pole position in a tight qualifying session. Norris pipped Verstappen by 0.020s for a second career pole, despite Verstappen setting provisional pole. McLaren was expected to challenge Red Bull in Barcelona due to high-speed corners favoring the MCL38. Marko was relieved Verstappen secured a front-row start, acknowledging McLaren’s performance improvement. Marko hinted McLaren as favorites for the race, but noted changes in tire wear strategy. Correct pit-stop timings would be crucial in a potential two-stop race if weather remains dry.”
