Third Grand Prix of the season… and third pole position for Max Verstappen.
Manhandled by Ferrari since the start of the weekend in Australia, the Red Bull driver put things back in place in the third and final qualifying session this Saturday with the fastest lap in history in Melbourne (1′15′ '915).
On the front row alongside him at the start this Sunday, we will find Carlos Sainz (+ 0''270), back after missing the Saudi Arabian GP for an appendicitis operation.
His teammate Charles Leclerc missed out and will start 5th behind Sergio Perez and Lando Norris.
MAX TAKES POLE IN MELBOURNE!!!
🤩🇦🇺
Carlos Sainz joins Verstappen on the front row.
Sergio Perez will start Sunday's race from third 👏👏#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/9GAYh3jv2U
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 23, 2024
Note, Lewis Hamilton, 8 times in pole position in Melbourne, remained stuck in Q2, in 11th place.
A “false” surprise given Mercedes’ performances this season.
Further behind, the little good news came from Alpine.
Esteban Ocon managed to get out of Q1 for the first time this season for the French team before finally finishing 15th.
Pierre Gasly could not do better than 17th position.
As a reminder, there will only be 19 cars at the start of the Grand Prix tomorrow, after the retirement of Logan Sargeant this Friday.
The American was forced to give up his seat to Alexander Albon, his teammate the victim of a major crash having rendered his car unusable for the rest of the weekend.
The starting grid
Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
Lando Norris (McLaren)
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
George Russell (Mercedes)
Yuki Tsunoda (RB)
Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Alexander Albon (Williams)
Valtteri Bottas (Kick Sauber)
Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
Daniel Ricciardo (RB)
Zhou Guanyu (Kick Sauber)