The British driver from the Mercedes team, Lewis Hamilton, took pole position at the end of the official tests of the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, which takes place on Sunday at the Montmeló circuit in Barcelona.
The reigning world champion beat his teammate and World Cup leader Nico Rosberg and Australian Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull), who will start from the second row alongside his new teammate Max Verstappen.
The triple world champion thus achieved the third pole of this season, after those of Australia and Bahrain, adding his 52nd pole since his debut in Formula 1.
Hamilton posted an almost perfect lap, stopping the clock in exactly 1 minute 22 seconds, 280 thousandths faster than his great rival this season, Nico Rosberg.
The two Red Bulls surprised the two Ferraris, who will occupy the third row, despite the fact that the ‘Scudería’ had offered good feelings in free trials.
The two Spanish drivers reached Q3, but finally Fernando Alonso could only be tenth, while Carlos Sainz finished eighth.
Mexican Sergio Pérez (Force India) also reached Q3 (9th), and his compatriot Esteban Gutiérrez was 16th. AFP