Max Verstappen secured his first Formula 1 pole since June during a gripping qualifying session at the Qatar Grand Prix. In a formidable display, Verstappen managed to edge out George Russell by a mere 0.055 seconds, demonstrating a significant turnaround for Red Bull Racing after a series of challenging sprint sessions.
Verstappen’s Masterclass
Red Bull found renewed pace just in time for qualifying, as Verstappen expressed his satisfaction over team radio upon clinching pole position. Russell had initially set the benchmark with a provisional pole lap time of 1m20.575s. However, Verstappen’s final flying lap improved to 1m20.520s, just slipping past Russell to take the top spot.
Despite the triumph, Verstappen’s pole is under scrutiny due to an investigation concerning a potential infringement involving the maximum lap time permitted on one of his warm-up laps. The outcome of this investigation could affect the starting order for the race.
Contenders and Surprises
Lando Norris will start third after McLaren appeared to lose some of their earlier qualifying pace. He will line up alongside teammate Oscar Piastri in fourth. Charles Leclerc secured fifth for Ferrari, with Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes splitting the Ferraris to start sixth.
Fernando Alonso’s performance saw him clinch eighth on the grid, pushing Kevin Magnussen to 10th. Sergio Perez managed to secure ninth with a last-second lap, edging out Magnussen by 0.075 seconds.
Q2 Drama: Alonso and Hamilton Shine Late
Pierre Gasly missed a Q3 entry by a fraction, despite late improvements made by Hamilton and Alonso. Alonso’s final lap pushed him to a provisional seventh, momentarily placing Hamilton in the danger zone. However, Hamilton responded promptly, setting a time good enough for fifth.
Gasly finished just 0.012s short of Perez’s pace, staying clear of Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu, who took 12th, and was two-tenths faster than his teammate Valtteri Bottas. Yuki Tsunoda finished 14th for AlphaTauri, while Lance Stroll was also eliminated during the session.
Albon and Lawson Fall Short
In the earlier Q1 session, Alex Albon was pushed outside the top 15 by Tsunoda’s final attempt, despite not setting personal bests in any sectors. Rookie Liam Lawson could not escape the bottom five either, though he did outqualify sprint race point scorer Nico Hulkenberg.
Haas driver Hulkenberg received an apology from his race engineer after being unable to capitalise on optimal track conditions during Q1, ending a difficult day for the team.
This gripping qualification session sets the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating race in Qatar, with fans eager to see if Verstappen can convert his pole position into a victory or if unforeseen challenges lie ahead.
