(Melbourne) The Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), leader in the Formula 1 world championship, took the leading position in the Australian Grand Prix on Saturday and will start at the head of the Grand Prix on Sunday on the Albert Park circuit .
“It’s a bit unexpected,” Verstappen reacted in front of more than 124,000 people – a record for a GP Saturday in Australia.
The three-time reigning world champion signs in Melbourne, scene of the third round of the season, the 35e top position of his career in the elite.
Winner last year in Australia after a chaotic GP, Verstappen was logically the favorite before the arrival of the paddock in Australia, such has been his insolent domination in recent years.
The Dutchman, however, seemed to be in trouble during testing, failing to “find the right balance” in his car.
If he wins on Sunday on the Australian track, “Mad Max” would equal his record for consecutive victories. In 2023, the reigning champion had won ten Grands Prix in a row, breaking the record of the German Sebastian Vettel (9 victories in a row in 2013).
Verstappen will start in front of the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz, who returns to his seat this weekend just two weeks after having appendicitis surgery.
“If you had told me a few days ago that I was going to fight for the leading position, I would not have believed it,” admitted the Spaniard.
The other Red Bull, that of the Mexican Sergio Pérez, will start from the second row, in third position, ahead of the Briton Lando Norris (McLaren), fourth.
The third row goes to the Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – performing well in testing – and the local of the stage, the Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren).
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) will start 11e. The Briton failed at the gates of Q3, the third part of qualifying where the leading position among the ten fastest drivers competes.
Only 19 out of 20 drivers competed in these qualifications since the American Logan Sargeant was missing, after his Williams teammate Alexander Albon heavily damaged his floor on Friday.
His team not having a spare floor, it decided to recover Sargeant’s floor in order to maximize its chances of scoring points, Albon being more efficient than his teammate.
Consequently, the American will not compete in the GP scheduled from 0 a.m. on Sunday.