Max Verstappen claimed his third pole in a row of the season ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.
The 26-year-old Dutchman was quickest in qualifying ahead of Carlos Sainz and teammate Sergio Perez.
Perez nevertheless will begin Sunday’s race in sixth having acquired a three-place grid penalty for impeding.
Verstappen seemed to be struggling throughout free practices 1,2 on Thursday and Friday at the Australian Alber Park circuit.
After setting a time of 1m 16.048s in the first runs of Q3, Verstappen improved on his effort in the remaining laps with a 1m 15.915s.
]His remaining ‘moster lap’ put him 0.270s clear of Sainz, who had seemed spectacular in his first qualifying since returning following surgical procedure for appendicitis two weeks in the past.
Ferrari Charles Leclerc seemed fast all through the weekend and even throughout Q1 and Q2, he seemed set for pole however solely managed to position his automobile fifth in Q3.
Verstappen will begin on the entrance row alongside Sainz in the Australian GP on Sunday.
The McLaren of Lando Norris and Leclerc occupy the second row.
Home favourite Oscar Piastri will begin from fifth, ahead of Perez who was penalised.
Mercedes’ George Russell is in seventh and RB’s Yuki Tsunoda in eighth after a robust efficiency.
The Aston Martin duo of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso accomplished the high 10, with every having a second throughout their laps in Q3.
Max Verstappen’s outdated rival Lewis Hamilton failed to achieve Q3 and can begin from eleventh on the grid.
After the qualifying, Perez was happy with how the automobile carried out, though he dropped down the order.
Verstappen favorite to win Australian GP
“I consider we had the potential for extra, we couldn’t full that first sector.
It’s a disgrace that we’ve to start out from the third row as a result of of a penalty,” he mentioned.
“The Australian fans are incredible, hope we can give them a great race,” mentioned Perez.
The Australian GP begins at 06:00 on Sunday.
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