Lando Norris takes pole as Madrid hosts debut F1 Spanish Grand Prix
Defending world champion Lando Norris secured pole position for the Madrid Grand Prix debut at the new Madring circuit, edging out Kimi Antonelli.
Lando Norris has seized pole position for the debut Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix at Madrid's brand-new Madring circuit, edging out his rivals in a fiercely contested qualifying session as the sport returns to the Spanish capital for the first time since 1981, according to reporting from the New York Post and Gpfans.
The defending World Drivers Champion driving for McLaren clocked a blistering lap time during Saturday's qualifying. Gpfans notes that Norris finished one hundredth of a second ahead of world championship leader Kimi Antonelli. Meanwhile, the New York Post specifies Norris's pole-winning time as 1 minute and 31.824 seconds.
Media additions
This weekend's grand prix is the second race held in Spain this season, following the inaugural Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in June, as reported by the New York Post. The newly opened Madring circuit presents a unique challenge for the grid. Gpfans describes the track as a breathtaking 5.416km layout featuring 22 corners, highlighting the wild 24 percent banked La Monumental corner. Conversely, the New York Post measures the circuit length at 3.364 miles across 57 laps, totaling a 191.630-mile race distance while agreeing on the 22-turn count.
Behind the front row, four-time world champion Max Verstappen starts from P3, sitting ahead of the Ferrari pair of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, according to Gpfans. The New York Post also places Verstappen in the top three, rounding out the early podium grid positions behind Antonelli. Antonelli's nearest challenger in the Drivers' standings, Mercedes team-mate George Russell, faces an uphill battle after qualifying down in P6, as noted by Gpfans.
Fans around the globe are tuning in for the race. Gpfans reports that lights out for the grand prix is scheduled for Sunday, September 13, 2026, at 3pm local time, corresponding to 2pm in the UK and 9am Eastern in the US. The New York Post similarly confirms the 9 a.m. ET start time for American audiences.
| Region / Country | Primary Broadcasters |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports (Highlights via Channel 4) |
| United States | Apple TV |
| Spain | DAZN, Mediaset |
| Italy | Sky Italia |
| Netherlands | Viaplay, Viaplay Xtra |
| Germany | Sky Deutschland, RTL |
| France | Canal+ |
| Australia | Fox Sports, Foxtel, Kayo, Network Ten |
Broadcasting rights differ significantly across international territories. Gpfans highlights that Sky Sports F1 broadcasts the race live in the UK, while Channel 4 provides a later highlights package. In the United States, Apple TV serves as the broadcaster following a landmark $750million five-year deal, supplemented by a seven-day free trial for new viewers detailed by Gpfans. The New York Post adds that US subscribers can access the entire Formula 1 season and extras like Race in 30, with streaming plans available directly or via Prime Video. Additionally, Spanish viewers have access to a free-to-air option via Mediaset, as reported by Gpfans.
As the paddock settles following qualifying at the Madring circuit, attention turns directly to the 57-lap battle on track.
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