The third qualifying session of the season for the Australian GP ended like the first two, with the pole position for Max Verstappen. After third free practice, closed with Leclerc in the lead like the FP2, Ferrari seemed to be able to fight for pole. However, when it mattered most, the champion showed up again. Let's go over everything that happened.
Q1: Sainz ahead of everyone
Sainz closes the first part of qualifying in the lead, ahead of Perez e Verstappen. Dutch has replaced the power unit before qualifying: the exit onto the curb FP1 it damaged not only the bottom but also the engine. Despite many complaints on the radio about understeer, the world champion still finished third. Fourth half for Leclerc, fifth per Alonso.
Hulkenberg, Gasly, Ricciardo and Zhou eliminated. Magnussen, the fifth slowest driver, was saved thanks to Sargeant's absence and entered Q2. Of note is the fourteenth time Or with, which passes the Q1 cut for the first time in the season.
Q2: First twist
After first place in Q1, Sainz also closes Q2 in command. The Spaniard precedes his teammate Leclerc, Verstappen, Piastres e Perez. Norris (seventh) is sandwiched between Aston Martin. Great shot tsunoda, which qualifies for Q3 for the second weekend in a row.
Still late night for Mercedes: Russell it's only tenth, Hamilton even eliminated in eleventh position (his worst qualifying result in Australia since 2010). In addition to number 44, also eliminated Albon, Bottas, Magnussen e Or with.
Australian GP qualifying: pole for Verstappen, front row for Sainz
After being first in Q1 and Q2, Sainz he has to settle for an excellent front row. Verstappen, in fact, took the pole position from him. Third place for Perez and fourth for Norris, while Leclerc he is only fifth after aborted his last lap because of an error.
Sixth Piastres, seventh Russell. Great work by tsunoda, eighth, preceding the two Aston Martins. Stroll he manages to beat Alonso and finishes in ninth position, while the Asturian (which is went off track in his first attempt) qualified tenth, almost half a second behind his teammate.
Will Ferrari be able to challenge for victory tomorrow? Sainz and Leclerc seemed very fast on the long run in the simulations done in free practice. We'll just find out tomorrow morning at 5.
