LANDO NORRIS knocked Max Verstappen off his perch to toast pole position at the Barcelona Grand Prix.
The British 24-year-old roared “let’s go baby” as he beat Verstappen by 0:020 seconds after overcoming a fire in McLaren‘s motorhome on Saturday morning.
World champion Verstappen settled for second place in his Red Bull while Lewis Hamilton beat his Mercedes team-mate Russell to line up in P3.
Norris added: “It was pretty much a perfect lap, the whole thing went perfectly.
“I’m super happy. It was one of the best pole positions I’ve ever had.”
There was trouble in the Mercedes camp throughout with Russell fuming with the way Hamilton was prepping a lap late on in Q3.
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He said: “What the **** was Lewis doing prepping that lap.”
Hamilton, who toasted his first finish in the top three this season, said after the race: “I didn’t expect to be in for pole necessarily but every now and then there looked to be bits that had us close.
“We have made huge steps forward and it is really down to every single individual back at the factory who is working on design, pushing in making the new parts we get to bring to these races.
“Slowly the car is crafting into a racing machine with which we can hopefully fight the guys in front.
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“George did a great job as well so hopefully tomorrow we can apply the pressure on the guys in front.”
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McLaren’s motorhome was evacuated on Saturday morning after a fire broke out above the kitchen leaving one McLaren team member in hospital “as a precaution”.
Emergency services rushed to the scene in Barcelona after a suspected electrical fire leaving drivers Norris and Oscar Piastri evacuated as well as team personnel, guests and media.
McLaren said in a statement: “This morning a fire was detected in our trackside Team Hub.
“The team hub was evacuated of all staff and guests, and circuit emergency services attended the scene within minutes. The circuit emergency services and local fire department have since extinguished the fire.
“One McLaren team member has been taken to hospital as a precaution, and all McLaren personnel and guests are accounted for.
“We would like to thank all the marshals and emergency services for their quick and professional response. We would also like to thank Formula 1, the FIA and our competitors who have offered to help our team and guests this weekend.”
Several fire engines attended the scene with firemen rushing into the motorhome with hoses to put out the fire, as well as ambulances.
Two firemen were taken away in an ambulance for smoke inhalation checks.
FP3 or qualifying was not impacted ahead of the chaos in the Paddock.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
