Despite his clear domination on the circuit this season, the Dutchman said he was “surprised” to have managed to take pole on Saturday on the Australian circuit.
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The Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), leader in the Formula 1 world championship, took pole position for the Australian Grand Prix on Saturday March 23, and will start in the lead on Sunday on the Albert Park circuit. He will start in front of the Ferrari of Spaniard Carlos Sainz and the McLaren of Briton Lando Norris, who benefits from the three-place penalty imposed on the Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull), initially 3rd and reclassified 6th for having “unnecessarily embarrassed” the German Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) during qualifying. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) thus recovers fourth place on the starting grid.
“It’s a little unexpected”, reacted Max Verstappen 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 35th pole position of his career. Winner last year in Australia after a chaotic GP, the Dutchman was logically the favorite before arriving in Australia, such has been his insolent domination in recent years.
French people 15th and 17th at the start
The Dutchman, however, seemed to be in trouble during the tests, failing to achieve “finding the right balance” of 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).
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) will start 11th. The Briton failed at the gates of Q3. At Alpine, the French Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly will start 15th and 17th respectively.
