One eye on the track and one on the penalties
After three sessions of free tests, who have seen Red Bull in the lead twice and Ferrari once, are now getting serious with the fourteenth qualifying of the year. The low temperatures should theoretically favor the team of Verstappen and Perez but nothing can be predicted in Formula 1. The peculiarity of today is that there will be two parallel sessions. In addition to the normal pole chase, seven drivers (including Verstappen e Leclerc) they will come penalized on the grid and then battle to see who will start further up.
At the end of Q1 they are eliminated Hag (just two thousandths from Mick Schumacher), Latifs, Magnussen, tsunoda e Bottas. The Alfa Romeo Finn hadn't been eliminated in Q1 since the 2015 Monaco GP, testifying to his skill in qualifying. He will leave But in 13th position, having changed elements of the power unit at separate times unlike the other penalized drivers.
Albon surprise
Good job by Albon e Stroll, who confirm a positive weekend so far by beating both teammates and accessing Q2. The Thai from Williams, in particular, ends Q1 with an excellent sixth position sandwiched between the two Mercedes of Russell and Hamilton.
All the "top drivers" except Perez begin Q2 with used tires and Verstappen continues his moment of strength by setting the fastest lap ahead of his teammate. Who knows if in Q3 he will give Checo a slipstream and help him build his second career pole position. There Ferrariinstead, it does team play without thinking twice and Leclerc and Sainz help each other.
Albon continues to be the MVP of the day also in Q2, passing in Q3 for the first time since Abu Dhabi 2020 with a magic that takes him to tenth position. Eliminated Ricciardo, gasly, Zhou, Stroll e Schumacher. Difficult session for the Australian from McLaren, who misses access to Q3 by a tenth despite having benefited from the slipstream of his teammate Norris.
Leclerc e Verstappen close Q2 respectively in first and second position but, if this were the case also in Q3, Perez (third) and Sainz (fourth) would take advantage of their penalties to start from the front row. The two also enter Q3 Mercedes, the two Alpine e Norris.
Pole for Sainz!
Verstappen closes Q3 in first position but the pole will Sainz! Perez, not helped by Verstappen unlike Sainz, will be second on the grid tomorrow. Behind him a super Alonso followed by Hamilton, Russell and an extraordinary one Albon. Verstappen e Leclerc they will start respectively 14th and 15th. A super race awaits us tomorrow at 15 pm!
