Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has cruised to pole position for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.
The Championship leader was expected to continue his dominance at the front of the field, but the Dutchman was not even required to set a second hot lap in Q3.
His opening stint was remarkably nearly half-a-second faster than his rivals, who each tried and failed to dislodge him from first place.
Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr joins Verstappen on the front row, while there is the surprise pairing of McLaren's Lando Norris and Alpine's Pierre Gasly on the second.
QUALIFYING CLASSIFICATION
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 3, 2023
Max Verstappen takes P1 for Sunday, with Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris behind!#SpanishGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/FuWjyVPCAz
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton had to make do with fifth, with Lance Stroll getting the better of his Aston Martin teammate Fernando Alonso to start in sixth.
Alonso, in his home Grand Prix, will start in ninth, while Alpine's Esteban Ocon and Haas' Nico Hulkenberg are seventh and eighth respectively.
Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren completed the top 10, with Sergio Perez, George Russell and Charles Leclerc all missing out on the final session.
While Perez and Russell were 11th and 12th quickest respectively, Leclerc will start on the back row in 19th after falling short in Q1.
Darren Plant
