Hulkenberg with strong F1 qualification
Cannibal Verstappen grabs pole in Barcelona
06/03/2023, 05:28 p.m
Who else should stop Max Verstappen this Formula 1 season? The leader in the World Championship standings won’t be distracted by the weather at the Spanish Grand Prix either. He takes pole. Haas driver Nico Hülkenberg convinces in qualifying, two star drivers experience a debacle.
World Champion Max Verstappen confidently secured pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver prevailed in qualifying on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya ahead of local hero Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari and McLaren driver Lando Norris. For the Dutchman it is the 24th pole of his Formula 1 career and already the fourth of the season.
Haas driver Nico Hülkenberg finished eighth in the top ten for the fourth time this year, staying ahead of fan favorite Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin. Hülkenberg’s teammate Kevin Magnussen only starts from 17th place. He failed in Q1.
Verstappen does what he wants with the competition
Ferrari star Charles Leclerc, second in the World Championship last year and pole setter in Spain, had a very black day. After a qualifying debacle, he only started from 19th place. Mercedes driver George Russell fared little better in twelfth place and Sergio Perez, who was only eleventh in the second Red Bull. It was only with great effort that he qualified for Q2 in the first place.
Pole position is particularly valuable on the track just outside Barcelona. In the 32 races to date, the eventual winner has started 23 times from first place. Another factor might be to protect the tires. The course layout has been changed compared to previous years, the course is now faster and more fluid, but it also demands more from the material.
According to the Formula 1 weather service, there is a significant risk of rain for the race on Sunday (3 p.m. / Sky, Sky Sport DE YouTube channel and in the live ticker on ntv.de). The third free practice session on Saturday was already affected by rain, and it was dribbled at the beginning of qualifying. Red Bull has won all six races of the season so far, four wins went to Verstappen. His lead over Perez is 39 points.