Max Verstappen, from Red Bull Racing, secured the first position in the qualifying for the 2024 Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix. This marks his third consecutive pole position of the season, as Charles Leclerc failed to complete his final lap. Carlos Sainz managed to take second place, splitting the two Red Bulls after a highly competitive session. Leclerc, who had shown great potential in the free practices before qualifying, seemed ready to challenge for the pole position. However, it was Verstappen who once again achieved this feat, having done so previously in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
The stage was set for an intense session at Albert Park, with less than four tenths of a second separating the top eight drivers in the third free practice session. As a result, when qualifying began in front of a full crowd, it was hard to tell who would come out on top. The competition was fierce from the start, with Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes, and Aston Martin showing strong performances and minimal differences in pace.
Sainz emerged as the leader after the first qualifying session, while Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg surprisingly failed to advance. Hulkenberg was joined by Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, and Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu in the elimination zone. The field was incredibly competitive, with a gap of 1.457 seconds between the drivers and less than a second separating those who were safe from elimination. Any mistake during the qualifying session resulted in a significant drop in position.
Alex Albon, from Williams, comfortably made it to the second qualifying session, along with Valtteri Bottas, from Sauber, and Esteban Ocon, from Alpine, who had reasons to be optimistic after avoiding early elimination. However, after the first laps in Q2, these three drivers were in danger of being eliminated, as Verstappen took the lead on the scoreboard. Sainz and Leclerc managed to surpass Verstappen’s time, pushing him to third place. Surprisingly, Lewis Hamilton, seven-time world champion, was eliminated in 11th place, marking his worst qualifying performance in Melbourne since 2010.
With two complete sessions, the battle for pole position was mainly between Verstappen and the two Ferrari drivers, with only 0.712 seconds separating the top 10 drivers going into Q3. Verstappen set an impressive time on his first lap, staking his claim for pole position. In the final laps, Verstappen and Sainz exchanged fast sector times, but it was Verstappen who ended up in first place with a time of 1:15.915s, 0.270 seconds ahead of Sainz. Sergio Perez finished in third place, while Lando Norris, from McLaren, secured fourth position.
Leclerc, unfortunately, had to abandon his last lap and settled for fifth place on the grid. Local driver Oscar Piastri finished in sixth place, followed by George Russell, from Mercedes, in seventh. Yuki Tsunoda, from Red Bull, completed an impressive performance on Saturday with the eighth best time in Q3. Lance Stroll, from Aston Martin, outperformed his teammate Fernando Alonso, and they will start on the fifth row of the grid for tomorrow’s race.
Once again, Verstappen has the advantage going into the Australian Grand Prix, which will start on Sunday at 3:00 pm local time (04:00 GMT).
© 2024
The world of sports is always in constant motion and full of surprises. Every week, fans are treated to great games, incredible performances, and emotional stories. And this week was no different. Check out the latest news from the world of sports:
Soccer:
The national soccer championship is coming to an end and teams are fighting hard to secure their place in the table. The Flamengo team continues to lead the championship, with a comfortable advantage over its competitors. However, Palmeiras is on an impressive winning streak and is determined to reach the top. Will they be able to surpass Flamengo?
Basketball:
The NBA season is in full swing and fans are excited about the performances of their favorite teams. The Los Angeles Lakers, led by LeBron James, are dominating the league and seem unstoppable. However, the Brooklyn Nets, with their stellar trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving, are quickly closing in. Who will be the NBA champion this year?
Tennis:
In the world of tennis, major tournaments are taking place and players are giving their all to achieve victory. Swiss player Roger Federer is back on the courts after a long injury and is determined to show that he still has a lot to offer. Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka continues to impress with her powerful game and strong mentality. Who will be the next champion?
Extreme sports:
For fans of extreme sports, there has been a lot of action in recent weeks. Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina secured another victory on the world surfing circuit, solidifying his place as one of the best in the world. Additionally, the X Games brought exciting skateboarding, BMX, and motocross competitions, with athletes showcasing their skills and courage. The world of extreme sports never disappoints!
These are just some of the exciting news happening in the world of sports. Stay tuned for more updates and don’t miss any exciting moments. Sports is a passion that unites us and excites us. Let’s cheer and celebrate together!
