Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took pole position in a Spanish Grand Prix qualifying full of incident and drama, including a collision between the Mercedes drivers.
George Russell is under investigation after moving over on Lewis Hamilton at close to 200mph on the straight in the second session and damaging Hamilton’s front wing.
Hamilton made it through to the final session but could manage only fifth place.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was second ahead of a remarkable performance from McLaren’s Lando Norris in third on a grid that has six different teams in the top six places.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly was fourth fastest but is under investigation and likely to receive penalties for two separate impeding incidents, while Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was sixth.
Sainz’s team-mate Charles Leclerc was down in 19th place complaining of car problems.
Russell joined Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, compromised by a spin, in being knocked out in the second session and they will start 11th and 12th.
And Fernando Alonso was another to suffer for an off-track moment. He damaged his floor with an off in the fast final corner at the very start of qualifying and could manage only ninth fastest time, three places behind team-mate Lance Stroll who he had out-qualified at every race this season until now.
Behind Stroll, Alpine’s Esteban Ocon was seventh ahead of the surprisingly quick Haas of Nico Hulkenberg in eighth.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri completed the top 10 behind Alonso.
More to follow.
