FACTS AND STATS: A first front row lock-out in Spain for McLaren since 1998 as Piastri grabs biggest pole margin of the season

Oscar Piastri grabbed pole in Spain for McLaren, beating his team mate by just over two tenths of a second. It was his fourth pole of the year as he looks to extend his lead in the Championship. But with Lando Norris chasing back to back wins, the Australian might not have it all his own way here – despite what the timing sheet says. Here are the best facts and stats from a frantic Qualifying in Barcelona…

• Piastri out-qualified Norris for the fifth this season in nine race weekends, having only done so four times in total last season.

• It was the Australian’s fourth career pole, all of which have been achieved this season. It was also the largest pole margin of the year at 0.209s.

READ MORE: Piastri beats Norris to pole position in thrilling Spanish GP Qualifying as McLaren lock out front row

• Norris was second, for McLaren’s first front row lock-out in Spain since 1998 when Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard did so.

• With a McLaren lock-out, it is worth noting that 31 of 34 previous winners here have come from the front row.

• Max Verstappen was third, the first time he has not started on the front row here since 2020.

• George Russell starts fourth, and he took the lead in the first corner from P4 here last season.

• Lewis Hamilton grabbed P5, to equal his highest start for Ferrari in a Grand Prix – he did qualify fourth in Monaco, but started seventh after a penalty.

• It is only the second time this season that Hamilton has out-qualified Charles Leclerc for a Grand Prix.

• Kimi Antonelli was sixth, for his first top-10 start since Miami.

• Leclerc qualified seventh as he starts outside the top four in Spain for the third year in a row.

EXPLAINED: Everything you need to know about the Spanish Grand Prix front wing Technical Directive

• Pierre Gasly made Q3 and grabbed P8, having only started higher once this year back in Bahrain.

• Isack Hadjar bagged his fifth Q3 appearance of the year and third in a row.

• Fernando Alonso managed his third consecutive Q3 appearance this season.

• Alex Albon’s P11 was his team’s best Qualifying performance in Spain since 2017.

• Gabriel Bortoleto was 12th, his career-best Qualifying performance.

• Liam Lawson grabbed P13, and has been out-qualified 6-1 by Hadjar since he rejoined Racing Bulls.

• Lance Stroll qualified 14th, the same position he started from here last year.

• Ollie Bearman could only manage P15, for Haas’ worst two-car qualifying in Spain since 2021.

• Nico Hulkenberg was 16th, having only reached Q3 once in 12 appearances here.

• Esteban Ocon was P17, his worst-ever qualifying in Barcelona.

READ MORE: Horner pledges ‘100% commitment’ to Red Bull amid rumours of Ferrari approach for team boss role

• Carlos Sainz suffered his first Q1 elimination since Abu Dhabi 2023.

• Franco Colapinto in 19th had been quicker than Gasly prior to the mechanical woes that stopped him completing a last run in Q1.

• Yuki Tsunoda was slowest in P20, the second time this has happened for Red Bull this season following Lawson’s P20 in China.