Lando NORRIS has knocked Max Verstappen off the top spot to lift pole position at the Barcelona Grand Prix.

The 24-year-old British driver roared “let’s go baby” as he beat Verstappen in 0:020 minutes after overcoming a fire in the McLaren motorhome on Saturday morning.

World champion Verstappen claimed second place in his Red Bull while Lewis Hamilton beat Mercedes team-mate Russell to line up in P3.

Norris added: “It was almost a perfect lap, everything went perfectly.

“I am extremely happy. It was one of the best pole positions I’ve ever had.”

There was trouble throughout the Mercedes camp as Russell became angry with the way Hamilton prepared for a lap late in Q3.

He said: “What the hell was Lewis doing preparing for that lap.”

Hamilton, who secured his first top-three finish this season, said after the race: “I didn’t expect to necessarily win pole but sometimes it feels like there are things that force us together.

“We’ve made great strides and it’s really up to each individual at the factory who is doing the design work, driving the creation of new parts that we can bring to these races.” .

“Slowly, the car is being built into a racing machine that we hope can fight the guys in front.

“George also did really well so hopefully tomorrow we can put pressure on the guys in front.”

The McLaren motorhome was evacuated on Saturday morning after a fire broke out above the kitchen which sent a McLaren team member to hospital “as a precaution”.

Emergency services rushed to the scene in Barcelona after a suspected electrical fire forced the evacuation of drivers Norris and Oscar Piastri as well as team staff, guests and media.

McLaren said in a statement: “This morning, a fire was discovered at our trackside Team Hub.

“The fleet center was evacuated of all staff and visitors, and circuit emergency services were on scene within minutes. Circuit emergency services and the local fire department extinguished turn off the fire.

“A member of the McLaren team was taken to hospital as a precaution, and all McLaren staff and guests were taken to the emergency room.

“We would like to thank all the police and emergency services for their quick and professional response. We would also like to thank Formula 1, the FIA ​​and our competitors who have offered to help our team and guests this weekend.”

Several fire engines were at the scene with firefighters using water hoses to rush into the mobile home to put out the fire, as well as an ambulance.

Two firefighters were put in an ambulance to check the smoke concentration.

FP3 or qualifying were unaffected by the chaos at the Paddock.