In a dramatic turn of events at the Spanish Grand Prix, McLaren's Lando Norris clinched a rare pole position by edging out points leader Max Verstappen by a mere 0.02 seconds.
The victory was particularly impressive considering McLaren had to deal with a fire at their hospitality suite just hours before the final practice. The fire, which broke out in the kitchen area, prompted an immediate evacuation. Thankfully, all team members were safe, with one team member and two firefighters treated for smoke inhalation.
\"The best thing is that everyone is safe, everyone is doing well,\" Norris said. \"A bit of a scare for the whole team, just a bit of a more stressful day than I would have liked. I lost my shoes, that was as bad as it got for me.\"
Despite the unsettling incident, Norris maintained his focus and delivered a blistering final run during qualifying. When Verstappen was seconds away from claiming pole, Norris made a decisive move around the 4.6-kilometer track to secure the top spot.
McLaren's hospitality facility, a temporary multi-story structure, was severely impacted by the fire, preventing its use on race day. Norris mentioned that the incident deprives him of his usual quiet space to relax and focus, but he remains optimistic about his performance.
\"Maybe tomorrow it will impact me a bit more if I can't just get that quiet time that I love, but it is not the end of the world,\" he added.
Norris' pole position marks a significant achievement for McLaren, showcasing the team's resilience and Norris' exceptional driving skills amidst challenging circumstances.
Reference(s):
Despite facility fire, Norris edges Verstappen for pole at Spanish GP
cgtn.com
