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Lando Norris edges out Max Verstappen to take pole position in Spain

Lando Norris edged out Max Verstappen by just 0.020 to take pole
Lando Norris edged out Max Verstappen by just 0.020 to take pole

Lando Norris produced a superb lap to beat Max Verstappen to pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix.

The British driver was trailing Verstappen heading into the final runs at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya before he delivered the goods to take top spot.

Norris edged out the Red Bull man by just 0.020 seconds, with Lewis Hamilton in third, and George Russell fourth for Mercedes, with three British drivers in the top four.

"Let's f****** go, baby," yelled Norris after taking only his second pole of his career.

Norris' wonder lap arrived on the same day a McLaren staff member was hospitalised after a fire broke out at the British team's hospitality suite in the paddock.

"I would say it is my best pole position, and I have not had many, especially after what happened today," said Norris.

Norris has taken four podium finishes in his last five outings, including his maiden win in Miami last month.

The 24-year-old probably should have claimed another triumph last time out in Canada, but for a poor strategy call by his McLaren team during the rain-hit race.

But Norris, 63 points behind Verstappen in the championship standings, will be handed another chance of glory here on Sunday.

Meanwhile a member of the McLaren team has been hospitalised after a fire broke out in the British Formula One team's hospitality suite.

The fire started shortly after 12pm local time with smoke emerging from the building at the Circuit de Catalunya outside of Barcelona.

Lando Norris was among those evacuated from the two-levelled suite which houses the team during a race weekend. The Pirelli and Alpine buildings, which flank McLaren's hospitality suite, were also ordered out.

Emergency services worked for four hours to bring the situation under control with McLaren revealing the fire had been extinguished at 4.10pm local time.

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