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Verstappen takes pole for the Spanish GP ahead of Sainz

Max Verstappen will start first this Sunday in the F1 Spanish GP (3:00 p.m.), which is contested at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, one of the most demanding and technical tracks of the season. The race, the 33rd in a row to be held in Montmeló, promises strong emotions and an uncertain outcome, since the weather can be decisive because the risk of rain remains.

Verstappen, who took his fourth pole position in seven grands prix, will lead the grid afterwards of a high voltage Q3. Red Bull’s driver, leader of the championship with a 39-point advantage over Checo Pérez, achieved the goal with the best time of the weekend (1:12.272). Spectacular performance this weekend from Red Bull, but especially from Max, who he has dominated every session at a circuit where he took his first win in 2016 and where he also won last year.

We experienced a very strange classification due to the delicate conditions of the track, in which it was difficult to get the tire up to temperature and this led to some of the favorites being eliminated early. Charles Leclerc fell unexpectedly in Q1 and in Q2 were ‘cut’ Checo Pérez and George Russell. Three drivers who are usually protagonists in the fight for pole were surprisingly left out.

Leclerc, eliminated in Q1

Charles Leclerc, who took pole position here last year, has been eliminated in a very strange Q1 with the progressive improvement of the track. The Monegasque, who before his last attempt and 4′ from the end of the session was stopped by the FIA ​​to weigh his car, was penultimate. Checo Pérez narrowly escaped. 1 tenth left him in fifteenth place.

Q1 stopped short of starting. All drivers took to the track on slicks, but the tarmac was still wet from the rain during lap 3 and there was a succession of pit exits. Fernando Alonso left gravel after going out in the last cornerat the start of the main straight, and red-flagged so the marshals could clear.

The asphalt has gradually improved and when the shootout has resumed everyone has returned to the track with slicks. The improvement in it was remarkable and the times have started to drop quickly. In the end, the best time was that of Lewis Hamilton (1:12.937) and the distance between Norris, who was second, and Bottas, the first eliminated, was only seven tenths. Leclerc, Albon, Sargeant, Magnussen and the Finn were eliminated.

Pérez, with bad feelings

Verstappen has already shown all the potential in Q2, when in his first attempt he has already dropped 1:13 for the first time. The Dutchman stopped the clock in 1:12.760, enough time to pass the final cut. The battle to enter Q3 is on and Lewis Hamilton excels againwho in his first attempt managed to lower his times by 1:12 (1:12.999), sentencing his pass to Q3.

In the last rounds the classification has changed radically. With Verstappen giving up on the second attempt and with Lando Norris placing second again, in the same tenth place as the Dutchman (1:12.776) and Carlos Sainz (1:12.790), who finished third. Those eliminated in Q2 were Pérez, Russell, Zhou, De Vries and Tsunoda. The big surprise has been the fall of Pérezwho aspired to the front row, and the incident between Russell and Hamilton at the end of the straight must also be highlighted, who narrowly avoided an accident.

Verstappen, on another level

Verstappen’s display was completed in Q3. Only Verstappen made the first attempt with a new tyre, the rest did it with a used one and Max already finished the session setting the best time of the weekend (1:12.272). Two key laps to decide the grid, probably the most disputed with the exception of pole.

The battle for second place on the grid was spectacular, especially in the final seconds. Carlos Sainz achieving his best position of the season, a finger-licking second after the recent problems he has had and which contrasts with the elimination in the first turn of Leclerc. From Sainz to Lance Stroll, sixth, there were two tenths and this reflects how expensive a place on the front row has been. Fernando Alonso, who lost the car’s performance when he left the track in the first round, was finally ninth.

Leclerc showed his frustration when he was eliminated in Q1


2023-06-03 16:54:18
#Verstappen #takes #pole #Spanish #ahead #Sainz

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