Ian Parkes
Sunday 22 May 2022 12:12 – Updated: 12:12
Fernando Alonso starts from the lowest grid slot for his home race in his F1 career in the wake of Alpine deciding to fit a new power unit in the A522 for the Spanish Grand Prix.
Following qualifying, the two-time F1 champion conceded to a misjudgment that saw him exit Q1 at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya in a lowly 17th, his worst position in front of his home fans since his first year in the sport with Minardi in 2001.
In taking a fourth PU in six races, Alonso now incurs penalties that mean he drops to the back of the grid, with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Williams duo Alex Albon and Nicholas Latifi all moving up a place.
At the head of the field, for the fourth time in six races, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen start on the front row, with the Monégasque on pole.
Leclerc will be hoping for assistance from third-on-the-grid team-mate Carlos Sainz, with the Spaniard hoping to complete a clean weekend after incidents in the last three races.
George Russell starts from fourth, Mercedes’ highest grid slot of the season so far ahead of the second Red Bull of Sergio Perez and Silver Arrows team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher were allowed to retain their eighth and 10th places on the grid following an FIA investigation into the Haas duo driving too slowly during qualifying. A warning was ultimately given.
So your full Spanish GP grid is…
