Charles Leclerc shows character with an impossible pole, Mercedes scares and Fernando Alonso disappoints in Barcelona

Charles Leclerc is a champion. All that character that in past seasons was criticized so much this year is making him get out of very tight situations like the one he has experienced in the Montmeló classification. After spinning on the first lap of it, Leclerc has risked the pole of truth to make an all or nothing pole position. Impressive.

Leclerc has been helped by the fact that Max Verstappen, who had the best time so far, has suffered a mechanical problem on his last lap. The champion’s Red Bull ran out of power in the first sector, preventing him from fighting for pole position which, in any case, was very difficult to take away from Leclerc.

The Red Bull left Verstappen lying on his fastest lap

After the blunder of Leclerc seemed ruled out for pole, since risking to the maximum meant exposing yourself to make another mistake and start tenth. However, the world leader has shown his character by taking a lap to the limit and stealing pole position from a gentlemanly Verstappen, who at no time stopped his Red Bull completely to force a red flag.

One more time, Carlos Sainz has been good enough not to get into trouble, but not enough to fight for pole. The Spanish driver will start from third position on the grid, but with a time four tenths slower than Leclerc’s. His position is going to be key to the strategy, as Red Bull has Sergio Pérez further back.

And it is that Mercedes has returned. Those of the star are back in the ointment, with George Russell in fourth position, a few thousandths faster than Sergio Pérez. At the moment it seemed that Mercedes was going to fight for pole, but at the moment of truth it was seen that they have come closer, but they still have it left.

Sixth place for a Lewis Hamilton who will be half happy. He is closer to the first, but is still behind his partner. In Barcelona, ​​Russell has been systematically faster, although only a tenth has separated them in position. But Sergio Pérez will be an uncomfortable intermediate passenger.

The catastrophe of the classification has been that of Fernando Alonso, who was not even able to get through Q1. And it wasn’t just because Lando Norris ran into traffic, but because the Alpine has taken a worrying step back from Friday. Esteban Ocon was also about to fall in the first round and was finally twelfth.

Fernando Alonso arrived to make his flying lap… and met the train made up of one of the McLarens 😔

The action that has conditioned his fast lap in Q1 #SpainDAZNF1 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/z4vgTbz65P

— DAZN Spain (@DAZN_ES) May 21, 2022

Remarkable role of the Haas, who has put their two cars in Q3. Kevin Magnussen will start eighth and Mick Schumacher will be looking for his first points from tenth place. In front of both, Valtteri Bottas, seventh with the Alfa Romeo. and joy for Daniel Ricciardo, who got into Q3, ninth, while Norris was left out.

Formula 1 GP España 2022 classification results