The Dutchman once again dominated qualifying in Australia. Both Alpine drivers were relegated to the back of the grid and Lewis Hamilton was knocked out in Q2.
Who else but «Mad Max» to take pole position? Max Verstappen, leader in the Formula 1 world championship, will start at the head of the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, chasing a tenth GP success in a row which would allow him to equal his record.
In front of more than 124,000 people – a record for a GP Saturday in Australia – the three-time reigning world champion won the 35th pole of his career on Saturday, the third this year in as many meetings.
A performance “a little unexpected” according to the Dutchman, who until now seemed in difficulty at the wheel of his supruissant RB20, not being able to “to find the right balance”.
During the first parts of qualifying, the 26-year-old driver admitted that he had not “I don’t really feel like I can [se] fight for pole ». “But we made a few small adjustments to the car and that obviously helped.”.
Winner last year in Australia after a chaotic GP, Verstappen is logically the favorite before the arrival of the paddock in Australia, such has been his insolent domination in recent years.
If he wins on Sunday on the Australian track, «Mad Max» would tie his record for consecutive victories. In 2023, the reigning champion had won ten Grands Prix in a row, breaking the record of the German Sebastian Vettel (9 victories in a row in 2013).
Sainz “almost didn’t believe it”
On the Albert Park circuit, in the heart of Melbourne, Verstappen will start in front of Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari. The Spaniard returns to his seat this weekend, just two weeks after having appendicitis surgery.
“The last few weeks have been difficult, I spent a lot of days in bed, waiting to see if I would be here today. Arriving here and then being on the first line, I almost didn’t believe it”recognized the son of the double world rally champion, Carlos Sainz Sr, present this weekend in the paddock.
The other Red Bull, that of the Mexican Sergio Pérez completed the leading trio but the latter was penalized three places for having “unnecessarily hampered” the German Nico Hulkenberg (Haas). Lando Norris, fourth, took the opportunity to move up a place with the McLaren.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) will start 11th. The Briton failed at the gates of Q3, the third part of qualifying where pole is fought out among the ten fastest drivers.
Only 19 out of 20 drivers competed in these qualifications since the American Logan Sargeant was missing, after his Williams teammate Alexander Albon heavily damaged his floor on Friday.
His team not having a spare floor, it decided to recover Sargeant’s floor in order to maximize its chances of scoring points, Albon being more efficient than his teammate.
Consequently, the American will not compete in the GP scheduled from 5:00 a.m. French Sunday.
Qualification ranking
. Starting grid:
1st line:
Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull)
Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari)
2nd line:
Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)
Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari)
3rd line:
Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes)
Sergio Pérez (MEX/Red Bull)*
4th line:
George Russell (GBR/Mercedes)
Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/Racing Bulls-Red Bull)
5th line:
Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes)
Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Mercedes)
6th line:
Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes)
Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes)
7th line:
Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Sauber-Ferrari)
Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari)
8th line:
Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault)
Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Haas-Ferrari)
9th line:
Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Renault)
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Racing Bulls-Red Bull)
10th line:
Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Sauber-Ferrari)
*three place penalty for hindering Hulkenberg in qualifying
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