The distance match resumed between Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen in qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on Saturday April 9. Q3 turned in favor of the Ferrari driver who overtook the reigning world champion on his Red Bull on his last lap. The Austrian single-seaters will be on the lookout with 3rd place for Sergio Perez. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) was credited with the 8th time.
Back in Australia after two years of deprivation due to the Covid, the pilots were very greedy. Sometimes too much in the face of a low sun and a tricky Albert Park track. In total confidence on an F1-75 more “bouncy” than during his two previous outings, Charles Leclerc played with Max Verstappen and the Red Bulls. In Jeddah, Sergio Perez blew him the pole in the dying seconds. This time, the Monegasque took masterful revenge by setting the fastest time on his last lap.
He is the only one to have managed to go below 1’18 (1’17”868). Leclerc signs his second pole in three qualifications and remains subscribed to the front row at the start of the season. The championship leader is more favorite than ever on Sunday, especially since his three career victories in F1, Leclerc has signed them all from pole. “It was a good ridesoberly commented the poleman. I have never felt very comfortable here in the past. I managed to put everything together in Q3. I hope to maintain this position tomorrow in the race.”
That’s @ScuderiaFerrari‘s first pole in Australia in 15 years #AusGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/vwuK5Lkf63
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 9, 2022
Uncomfortable during free practice, the two Red Bulls regained their competitiveness during qualifying and have the weapons to undermine Italian domination, especially as Carlos Sainz, only 9th on the second Ferrari after to be missed in Q3, will not be of much help for his teammate. More surprising is the return to the top 10 of the McLarens (Norris 4th and Ricciardo 7th) who had been dragging themselves at the back of the grid for two races. In Melbourne, they came between the two Mercedes of Hamilton and Russell.
Q3 was marked by the exit of Fernando Alonso, launched in an extremely fast lap. Victim of a hydraulic problem which did not allow him to change gear, the Spaniard embedded his Alpine in a wall, causing a second red flag in these qualifications. Esteban Ocon saved the day by stalling in 8th position. Pierre Gasly did his best with his Alpha Tauri and will start from 11th place on the grid.
Note the painful session for the Williams team: Nicholas Latifi saw his single-seater largely destroyed following a crash in the first part of qualifying with a Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) at fault, while Alex Albon was disqualified for lack of able to provide a sufficient fuel sample to the race marshals. The Thai was however allowed to start, in last position.
A dramatic moment at the end of Q1 #AusGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/vx3TthAaUH
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 9, 2022