After Kimi Antonelli yesterday, it’s Max Verstappen who takes the pole for the race. Still with a close margin between him and the McLaren, find out how he managed to keep the lead.
With his problem during the sprint race, Charles Leclerc was not sure whether to participate in qualifying. Thanks to the work of his mechanics, he managed to take part in the session from the beginning. Most of the drivers went out on used tyres. Gabriel Bortoleto is the first one to record a time, in 1:28.674. Oscar Piastri is the fastest on track in 1:27.307, while both Mercedes came back into the pits. All the drivers went out on new tyres with eight minutes remaining on the clock in Q1. Kimi Antonelli keeps showing how at ease he is by going fastest in 1:27.077. Max Verstappen had a little help with a tow thanks to Hulkenberg, and took the fastest time. On the other hand, Lando Norris seemed to struggle in sector 2. Lewis Hamilton locked his right front tyre iin Turn 17 but had to go out again, as he was only P17. Being relatively safe with a 1:26.870 time, Max Verstappen stayed in the pit until the end of Q1. Sliding towards the end of his lap, Oliver Bearman stayed last on the grid. By taking second place, Lando Norris indicated slightly touching the wall. The traffic was too much for Pierre Gasly to handle in sector 3.
Out : Bearman, Stroll, Gasly, Alonso and Hulkenberg
Oracle Red Bull Racing was eager to continue the session as both cars were the first on track. Both Williams are very quick on track, taking fourth and fifth place. George Russell complained about the grip, but he was on used tyres. With seven minutes still on the clock, all the drivers were back in the pits. The only one with no time under his belt was Isack Hadjar, as he missed his attempt. Being first in a 1:26.269 time, Oscar Piastri stayed in the pit for the second run. Esteban Ocon slipped a bit in his first sector, which compromised his lap. Thankfully for him, Lewis Hamilton struggled with his car once again and didn’t ameliorate his time. He kept his P12 and is out of Q3.
Out : Lawson, Doohan, Bortoleto, Hamilton and Hadjar.
Ocon, Tsunoda, Sainz and Albon are the only drivers going out with used tyres for their first lap. Max Verstappen is the first one to make a real time in 1:26.492, and both McLarens stayed behind for the first attempt, with Lando Norris only 0.003 seconds behind. George Russell locked his tyres, same for Norris, while Charles Leclerc went wide in Turn 17, luckily without any damage. The battle for pole was on with Max Verstappen improving his initial time in 1:26.204. Lando Norris was far in the first sector but purple in the second. In the end, it was not enough to get the Dutch driver off of the pole. Andrea Kimi Antonelli managed to take the third place away from Piastri.