The British pilot made the best time for qualifying on the Red Bull Ring on Saturday. Max Verstappen will have to be satisfied with seventh place.
Two weeks after his error in Canada, the British Lando Norris (McLaren) ideally launched his buyout operation by winning the pole position of the GP of Austria of F1 after having flown over the qualifications on Saturday on the Red Bull Ring. The world’s vice-champion, under pressure after hitting his Australian teammate Oscar Piastri at the end of the race in Montreal, which had forced him to abandon, responded in the most beautiful ways on the track by crushing his opponents on the Nallonné Austrian traced.
Norris thus allowed himself the luxury of ahead of his first prosecutor, the surprising Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), of more than half a second on a circuit yet very short since it lasts barely more than a minute. “It was a very good turn, that’s for sure. I am very happy, it’s a good day and a good weekend until then, I hope to continue this momentum tomorrow (Sunday) but the race will be long ”reacted English by leaving his tub.
Ferrari in embuscade
After having stupidly lost ten precious points in the World Title race against Piastri, which is now ahead of 22 lengths, the Briton has placed in ideal situation to relaunch Sunday by winning the 12th pole position of his career, the third this season. “It is sure that it gives me a lot of confidence for tomorrow. I feel very comfortable in the car since the start of the weekend and the improvements made here seem to work. I hope to make a good race, but it will be long so it will be necessary to stay efficient ”he said.
Against all expectations, it is Leclerc who could give him a boost since the Ferrari pilot relegated Piastri to third row by snatching his place on the front line. Usually struggling on Saturday, the Scuderia has been efficient in Austria since the British Lewis Hamilton will go in fourth position. “Lately, we were solid in the race but in difficulty in qualifying so I am very happy to start on the front line. I do not know if we can fight for victory, but we have a good rhythm in the race so we will fight ”explained the Monegasque.
Big disappointment for Max Verstappen
The reigning quadruple world champion, Max Verstappen (Red Bull), however, shone on the lands of his stable, complaining in particular of a car “Incontituible” with “No grip”. The Dutchman, who had won the pole in the last five Grands Prix disputed at the Red Bull Ring (4 GP of Austria, 1 GP of Styria), this time was helpless, failing in seventh place, behind the Bulls Racing of his former New Zealand teammate Liam Lawson.
“So far the weekend has not been easy. We lacked rhythm and the heat did not help. The settings were not the right ones but once on the track, we can’t do anything about it. It will not be easy tomorrow (Sunday) but we will analyze everything to optimize our chances for the race ”explained “Mad Max”. The Frenchman Pierre Gasly (Alpine), in pain since the start of the weekend, has still managed to climb in Q3 (third part of the qualifications) despite everything, even if he took tenth place after having involuntarily made a nice double tire in the last turn in his second quick round.
After his last place in qualifying in Canada, the Norman has recovered well and can hope to grab a few points on Sunday if the performance of his car is not collapsing in the race as happens regularly this season. The other two tricolors of the grid, on the other hand, confirmed their difficulties observed since Friday: Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) had to be satisfied with 13th row, while Esteban Ocon (Haas) failed to get out of the Q1 and will leave in 17th position.
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