Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris address 'cheeky' Spanish GP qualifying exchange

Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have agreed that the move Piastri branded "cheeky" from Norris was nothing more than a coincidence in qualifying. The McLaren pair will start the Spanish Grand Prix on the front-row after Piastri pulled out the biggest pole advantage of the season, gapping Norris by 0.209s, making up a total of 0.226s on Norris on the second laps. Norris had held a slim 0.017s advantage after the first runs, and briefly earned a tow from Piastri as the Australian finished his first lap, the move being branded "cheeky." However, both drivers firmly believed that the incident was nothing more than a coincidence of the timing of their first runs.  "I went out very early for the first run of Q3, and I think it was just a coincidence that Lando ended up behind me opening the lap," Piastri explained to media including RacingNews365.  "Of course, when you cross the line to start your lap, it’s maybe not the nicest feeling, but we’ll discuss it. "There was nothing untoward going on. Unless Lando’s going to spill his master plan that he and Will had! But I think it was just a coincidence." As for Norris, he explained that he just wanted a slipstream "from someone" and it briefly turned out to be the sister MCL39. "We planned it the whole weekend! No. I didn’t know Oscar was going out first, to be honest. I tried to get a slipstream from someone," he added. "I think I was unlucky that it was Oscar. It was just a coincidence. I was tenth or something in the queue. I don’t know who I’m going to get a slipstream from because you’re waiting two minutes in the pit lane. So yeah, just a coincidence."