OFFICIAL GRID: Who starts where in Spain as Perez and Sargeant take three-place drops and Albon demoted to pit lane

Good friends off track and all but inseparable on it in qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix, Lando Norris and Max Verstappen line up on the front row for the start of Sunday's race in Barcelona.

Just two hundredths of a second split the McLaren and Red Bull stars, while Lewis Hamilton put in a season-best qualifying to take third on the grid ahead of Mercedes team mate George Russell.

REPORT: Norris beats Verstappen to pole in thrilling Spanish GP qualifying session

The Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and local favourite Carlos Sainz form row three, while a spectacular performance from Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon mean it's an unexpected all-Alpine row four.

In contrast to his pole-sitting team mate, McLaren's Oscar Piastri starts ninth after failing to record a Q3 lap time, with the Aston Martin of Spain's other home hero, Fernando Alonso, alongside him.

READ MORE: Norris thrilled after ‘pretty much a perfect lap’ bags second career F1 pole

Sergio Perez is a disappointing P11 for Red Bull, his poor qualifying compounded by a three-place penalty from the last round for continuing with a damaged car, while the only other penalty went to Williams' Logan Sargeant in P19 after he impeded Aston Martin's Lance Stroll during Q1.

Finally, starting from the pit lane will be the other Williams of Alex Albon, the team having opted to change power unit elements on his car following qualifying.

The 2024 Spanish Grand Prix starts at 1500 local time. Be sure to join our live coverage from 1400 here.