By Luke Pons
We’ve had three different pole-sitters so far this year.
Some early pace setters in Q1 Hulkenberg kicked us off with a 1m32.810s, which was immediately surpassed by Alonso’s 1m32.362s. Red bull got off to a bad start in Q1 Verstappen’s first lap ruined right at the end as he slides off which results in his track time been eliminated, His teammate Yuki Tsunoda also had his lap time deleted, with 5 minutes to go McLaren driver went top going two tenths faster than his teammate oscar piastri, however all the attention was still on red bull as neither driver had recorded a time with just 5 minutes remaining leaving it all or nothing for Verstappen and Tsunoda, in the last second Verstappen saved going P3! Yuki Tsunoda also through to Q2, but only just in P14! Hulkenberg’s late final effort put Albon out at the death. Alpine rookie Jack Doohan had a great Q1 getting as high as P3 at one point and going through to Q2
ELIMINATED IN Q1
- Albon, 17. Lawson, 18. Bortoleto, 19. Stroll, 20. Bearman.
Hamilton, Antonelli, Russell, Ocon, Tsunoda, and Hulkenberg were all out early to try and set the pace in Q2 and many others followed suit causing some delays in the pit lane, however the session came to a screeching holt Esteban Ocon put his car in the wall at Turn 3. He loses the rear, and ends up skipping across the gravel, Hulkenberg and Tsunoda were on laps at the time the incident stopped there pace setting efforts. Antonelli, Russell, and Hulkenberg lead the field onto the circuit. Mercedes in hot water for leaving the garage before the session resumption time was officially called. Battle of the McLaren’s yet again a 1m30.560s for Norris, as Piastri goes a tenth quicker with a 1m30.454s. Red bull struggling yet again Tsunoda survived by the skin of his teeth; Doohan wasn’t able to make it out of Q2 – just 0.017s made the difference. Red Bulls only in ninth and 10th. Alonso out in P14 yet to score any points this season so far rare for the Spanish 2 time champion
ELIMINATION FROM Q2
- Doohan, 12. Hadjar, 13. Hulkenberg, 14. Alonso, 15. Ocon.
All eight non-McLarens got out on track first, as the two McLarens hang on and decide to leave the garage a bit later. Verstappen and Tsunoda kick off with Q3 laps. Everyone except the two Mercedes cars are on used tyres. Tsunoda started with a 1m31.637s Verstappen 0.4s slower than the Japanese driver. Antonelli goes 0.143s faster than Tsunoda. Russell set a 1m30.364s to go top on the fresh softs. Piastri posted a 1m30.233s to go 0.131s faster than Russell, as Norris only managed P3 for the time being both McLarens on used tyres. Both Antonelli and Hamilton have had their first efforts in Q3 deleted. Furthermore, Hulkenberg lost a lap from a previous session, his 1m31.998s that got him into Q2. Williams will be annoyed as it was that Lap that eliminated Alex Albon. In the end Piastri set a 1m29.841s to get pole! Norris only sixth not able to find enough improvement on his lap. Russell joins Piastri on the front row, as Leclerc, Antonelli, and Gasly also separate the two McLarens. Verstappen is only seventh above Sainz, Hamilton, and Tsunoda.
Can Piastri add another victory to his f1 career and make a dint into his team mates title charge, or can the Mercades duo of Russell and Antonelli work together to produce some teammate magic we will find out tomorrow afternoon! Subsequent one place penalties for the Mercades pair certainly make it harder and increase the likelihood of a Piastri win, unless Leclerc or even Gasly can work wonders from 2nd and fourth respectively.
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