MELBOURNE, AUSTRÁLIA – MARCH 23: Dutch driver Max Verstappen, from Oracle Red Bull Racing, celebrates in the closed park area after securing pole position during qualifying for the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit on March 23, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
The Dutch driver picks up right where he left off last year, dominating the start of the 2024 season. Alongside his team, Red Bull, Verstappen’s RB20 easily won the first two stages of the competition.
Verstappen has now secured a hat-trick of pole positions this season, with his impressive time of 1:15.915 during qualifying at Albert Park Circuit. Despite his teammate, Sergio Perez, being the third fastest driver in Q3, he will start the Grand Prix in sixth position due to a three-place grid penalty for obstructing another driver.
Verstappen’s advantage over Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. was almost three tenths. Surprisingly, the 26-year-old driver expressed his surprise at being at the top of the timing screens for the 35th time in his Formula 1 career.
When asked if he expected to be on pole position, Verstappen emphatically replied, “No, definitely not.” He explained that he had struggled with the car’s balance throughout the weekend, facing a lot of understeer, which is not ideal for this circuit. However, he managed to overcome these challenges and deliver two strong laps in Q3.
Verstappen acknowledged that Ferrari seemed very strong and had no issues with tire management. In contrast, finding the right balance has been difficult for him and his team. The defending champion admitted that it is still uncertain how they will fare with the tires during the race.
Teammate Perez, despite being four tenths slower than Verstappen, remains optimistic about his chances of moving up the grid from sixth position. He believes the car felt good and they made progress during qualifying. Perez shares Verstappen’s concerns about tire degradation and recognizes the challenge of overtaking the Ferrari.
Will Verstappen maintain his lead and Perez secure another second place in 2024? Don’t miss the Australian Grand Prix, which starts at 04:00 GMT (15:00 local time) on Sunday, March 24.
