Norris faces the longest 11 seconds of his season starting from pole · RaceFans

If the start/finish line at the Circuit de Catalunya was just 100 metres further down the long main straight than it is, Max Verstappen would probably be starting on pole position for Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix.

But he isn’t – Lando Norris is, by just two-hundredths of a second.

The margin could have been greater, but after Norris had the tiniest of confidence lifts through the fast final corner, while Verstappen who remained flat throughout, the Red Bull was gaining on him all along the run to the line and could have easily beaten the McLaren had the timing line been just a little further along.

But having prevailed around the 4,657 metres of a qualifying lap, Norris now has to beat Verstappen over the 579-metre run from pole position to turn one – the longest on the calendar.

With four different teams appearing in the first five places on the grid, and potential intervention from the elements, this promises to be the most open and enthralling grand prix this circuit has seen in recent memory.

Weather

After three practice session in warm, sunny conditions, qualifying saw clouds begin to cover over the circuit for the first time in the weekend. As a result, temperatures dipped slightly compared to what drivers had experienced until that stage, with track temperatures around 10 degrees lower than Friday’s practice sessions.

Heading into Sunday, things are likely to be even cooler, and potentially also wet.

Forecasts indicate a strong chance of rain during Sunday morning in Barcelona, making for a very challenging day for the F2, F3 and F1 Academy drivers who will be racing then. The rain is expected to pass before the grand prix starts at 3pm, but there is always a risk that the track will be damp or drying by the time the lights go out.

The cooler track temperatures expected from the change in weather could help drivers to manage their tyres in what is expected to be a difficult race for degradation. But by washing the existing build-up of rubber away, the track may also become more punishing. Either way, drivers are likely to discover very different conditions when they head out for their reconnaissance laps, and how well they adjust to them will be critical for their prospects.

Start

Pole-winner Norris knows the 11-second run to turn one presents his closest rivals, Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton an excellent chance to erase his…