By Joe Murphy
The first session that mattered is in the books and there were certainly some surprises but also key takeaways from the hour long qualifying session.
Q1 could be title ‘A Miserable Session for Haas’ with both drivers out within twenty minutes. Oliver Bearman did one lap before his broken car gave up on him. Hitting the barriers twice will do that. Whilst Estaban Ocon could only go one position higher meaning Haas circa 2021 are officially back. Liam Lawson showed that perhaps Sergio Perez, Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon aren’t the problem and instead that other Red Bull car just doesn’t work, as Nico Hulkenberg was out qualified by his rookie teammate, only managing 17th. His Sauber teammate and current F2 champion Gabriel Bortaleto put his car one place above the drop, meaning Kimi Antonelli’s low floored Mercedes was out at the first hurdle. Not often you see a Red Bull and Mercedes out in Q1, but interesting that all five drivers out in the first part if qualifying, we’re new to the teams they now race for.
Q2 began as the track started to heat up. Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso ran wide left at Turn 10 to cause some damage to their underfloor. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc struggled in the final sectors as their rear tyres gave up on them, although both made it through to Q3 despite a spin from the former. That very spin jeopardised Jack Doohan’s and Issac Hadjar’s lap as both couldn’t make the cut, although their teammates Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda were more successful in their efforts. The Aston Martin pair also dropped out, unable to find any sort of real pace. Bortaleto confirmed the trio of rookies out in Q2, but managed to save his car from the wall late in the session, as the Williams pair made it through to the final part of qualifying.
In Q3, it was Lando Norris who took pole, after Verstappen and then Piastri had held that role provisionally. Piastri made sure it was a McLaren 1-2 as Verstappen could only manage third. George Russell finished in 4th in a strong result for the Silver Arrow as Yuki Tsunoda, the last man to cross the line, came home for a stunning fifth. His best ever qualifying result meant he got ahead of Alex Albon who will start Sunday’s race in 6th. The Ferrari pair came next as Charles Leclerc continued to dominate his teammate Lewis Hamilton. Carlos Sainz and Pierre Gasly completed the top 10.
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