Geroge Russell, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. WILLIAM WEST / AFP
The reigning world champion will start at the top of the grid on Sunday ahead of the two Mercedes of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
Max Verstappen has wings: the double reigning world champion of Red Bull offered his second pole position of the season at the Australian Grand Prix on Saturday, while his teammate Sergio Perez will start in last place.
For this third round of the Formula 1 world championship, the Dutchman will start ahead of the two Mercedes of the British George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, delighted after a successful third part of qualifying.
Verstappen only edged Russell by 236/1000, a smaller gap than expected, perhaps due to the fairly cool conditions in qualifying.
No smile, however, for the other Red Bull driver Sergio Perez, relegated to last position.
The Mexican left the track in the first part of qualifying, symbolic of a catastrophic start to the weekend for the one who had won pole and the Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia two weeks earlier.
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Already during practice on Saturday, he experienced several exits due to braking problems, which once again proved fatal to him on Saturday. “It’s always the same problem“, he cursed shortly after his mistake.
Verstappen, who is ahead of him by a small point, could therefore take the opportunity to fly away in the driver standings on Sunday at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne (5.278 km).
The Dutchman has never won there and has only won one podium in 2019 (3rd). Last year he had to retire after his car’s engine caught fire.
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Alonso on the second line
The double world champion, winner of the first GP of the season in Bahrain, did not say he was in top form yet. In Jeddah, he suffered from stomach aches before and during the race, which did not prevent him from finishing 2nd after a fantastic comeback after starting 15th.
If Pérez does not imitate him on Sunday, this third GP of the season could allow another team to finally break the total domination of Red Bull since the start of the season.
And so it could well be Mercedes. Russell and Hamilton confirmed the hopes left by the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix where they finished 4th and 5th respectively.
On Sunday, Spaniard Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), who saw Verstappen equal his 22 career poles, will start from the second row, while the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc will start in 5th and 7th position respectively.
Disappointment on the other hand for Esteban Ocon (Alpine). After a good last practice session on Saturday, the Frenchman will start in 11th position after failing in Q2, while his compatriot and teammate Pierre Gasly will be in 9th place on the grid. The local of the stage, the Australian Oscar Piastri, will start 16th.
Melbourne will then give way to a four-week cutoff after the cancellation of the Chinese GP. Sunday Verstappen therefore has the opportunity to send a message to the competition from the start of a marathon season.
. Starting grid:
1st line:
Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull)
George Russell (GBR/Mercedes)
2nd line:
Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes)
Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Mercedes)
3rd line:
Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari)
Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes)
4th line:
Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari)
Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes)
5th line:
Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Renault)
Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Haas-Ferrari)
6th line:
Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault)
Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri-Red Bull)
7th line:
Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)
Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari)
8th line:
Nyck de Vries (NED/AlphaTauri-Red Bull)
Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes)
9th line:
Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari)
Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams-Mercedes)
10th line:
Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari)
Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull)
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