AUSTRALIA: Max Verstappen Clinches Pole Position at Australian Grand Prix 2023. Max Verstappen continued Red Bull’s run of pole positions for 2023, beating out George Russell in qualifying at the Australian Grand Prix.
Despite light rain and a slippery track, Verstappen set the fastest time in qualifying with an impressive 1:16.732, while Russell came in second, two-tenths down.
Lewis Hamilton was the third fastest and will line up on the second row of the grid alongside Fernando Alonso.
Verstappen had been fastest in final practice and was the one to beat going into the session, while his teammate Sergio Perez was hoping to shake off his practice struggles.
However, Perez’s day was over early as he locked his front wheels into Turn 3 and went off into the gravel, finishing in P20 on the grid.
While Verstappen took the pole, his run was not without its challenges.
A small mistake on his hot lap saw him initially down in P6, but he managed to recover and set the day’s fastest time.
He also experienced some issues with his downshifts but overcame them to take the coveted grid slot.
The qualifying session was not without drama, as the red flags came out during Q1 when Perez went off into the gravel on his very first flying lap.
The red flag opened the door for a non-Red Bull driver to bag a front-row spot, which ultimately went to Russell.
Carlos Sainz in fifth, Lance Stroll in sixth, Charles Leclerc in seventh, Alex Albon in eighth, Pierre Gasly in ninth, and Nico Hulkenberg in tenth rounded out the top 10 grid spots.
While Verstappen’s pole position is a strong start for the reigning World Champion, the results of the Australian Grand Prix are very much open.
The race will occur on Sunday, and with a competitive field of drivers, anything could happen until the chequered flag waves.
Also Read: F1 Resumes Business: Verstappen Secures Pole Position for Bahrain Grand Prix
