Max Verstappen was imperial in the qualifying session of the Spanish Grand Prix, pushing Carlos Sainz Jr and Lando Norris to almost half a second. Fourth, Pierre Gasly is in the sights of the commissioners.
Max Verstappen has fixed an anomaly. Seven years after signing his first victory in Formula 1 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalonia, the double world champion took his very first pole position in the Spanish Grand Prix, the 24th of his career, the second in a row after that acquired last weekend in the streets of Monaco. A qualifying session that began under the threat of rain, which in the end carefully avoided Montmeló.
While Lewis Hamilton dominated a Q1 which was interrupted very early by the red flag due to the presence of too much gravel on the asphalt after several off-track excursions for Alex Albon, Valtteri Bottas or even Fernando Alonso, who damaged the floor of his Aston Martin by going too wide at the exit of the last corner, Max Verstappen then left nothing to his rivals. Dominant in Q2, the Dutchman banged his fist on the table at the start of Q3 with a lap of 1’12”272, pushing Lewis Hamilton to nine tenths of a second.
Gasly under threat
On his only attempt, Nico Hülkenberg confirmed that the pace seen on Friday was not a flash in the pan with the third provisional time. On a track which continued to improve after being washed out in the middle of the day by rain, the times fell but Max Verstappen was never worried. While the Catalan public was waiting for Fernando Alonso, it was Carlos Sainz Jr who put himself forward. The Spaniard came close to 462 thousandths to set the second time when Lando Norris failed at 520 thousandths, securing a start on the second row.
Gaps that could have been greater if Max Verstappen had gone to the end of his last attempt, interrupted since he could no longer be beaten. The McLaren driver should be accompanied by Pierre Gasly but there is total uncertainty regarding the Frenchman. Indeed, having visibly hampered Carlos Sainz Jr and Max Verstappen in Q1, the Alpine driver is under two investigations by the FIA stewards and risks a setback on the starting grid. His teammate Esteban Ocon, less than a week after his podium at the Monaco Grand Prix, set the sixth fastest time behind Lewis Hamilton and Lance Stroll.
Leclerc, Pérez and Russell in trouble
The Habs were ahead of Nico Hülkenberg, Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri. A qualifying session which was marked by several surprises. Complaining of a problematic rear axle in left turns, Charles Leclerc did not exist during Q1, which he finished with the 19th time. Forced to start from the last line, alongside Logan Sargeant, the Monegasque will have to whip. Sergio Pérez, meanwhile, still showed signs of feverishness. After his early mistake in the Principality, the Mexican was the victim of a new exit from the track in Q2 before lacking performance to pass the cut.
“Checo” failed in 11th place, seeing Q3 escape him for 51 thousandths of a second against Nico Hülkenberg. George Russell, twelfth in Q2, signaled himself with a collision in the straight line with his teammate Lewis Hamilton. With an atypical starting grid despite the far from surprising presence of Max Verstappen in pole position and with weather that could play spoilsport, this Spanish Grand Prix promises to be lively on a Barcelona track causing significant wear on the rubbers.
FORMULA 1 – SPANISH GRAND PRIX / QUALIFICATIONS
Q3 Ranking – Saturday June 3, 2023
1- Max Verstappen (PBS/Red Bull Racing) en 1’12’’272
2- Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari) at 0”462
3- Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren) at 0”520
4- Pierre Gasly (FRA / Alpine) at 0”544
5- Lewis Hamilton (GBR / Mercedes) at 0”546
6- Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin) at 0”722
7- Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine) at 0”811
8- Nico Hülkenberg (ALL/Haas) at 0”957
9- Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin) at 1”235
10- Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren) at 1”410
