Verstappen tops Sainz for Australian Grand Prix pole

Three-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen has qualified on pole for the third time in as many races this year, pipping Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.

The Red Bull driver’s late 1:15.915 was the quickest of the day and came in nearly three-tenths ahead of Sainz, who completes the front row, having only been operated on a fortnight ago for appendicitis.

Sainz admitted he was sore following the session but is back to pace within the car.

Sergio Perez will start Sunday’s Grand Prix from third. He had provisionally locked out the front row for Red Bull, but Sainz’s late lap split the pair.

Lando Norris jumped to fourth with his final circuit, while Charles Leclerc starts fifth, having abandoned his final lap.

Oscar Piastri is the first Australian driver on the grid at his home race. He starts sixth, ahead of George Russell, Yuki Tsunoda, Lance Stroll, and Fernando Alonso, who completes the top ten.

Verstappen led the way after the opening round of laps in Q3, holding an advantage of three-tenths over Sainz. Leclerc was provisionally third, ahead of Perez.

Stroll and Alonso did not complete an early run, the latter running through the sand at Turn 6 and returning to the pit lane to prepare for a final flyer.

Verstappen improved by one-tenth on his final run to secure the position, but it wasn’t required as no one went on to better his opening time.

Lewis Hamilton, who has qualified on pole eight times at Albert Park, was the shock elimination from Q2 and was bumped to 11th by late laps from Stroll and Tsunoda.

Alex Albon, competing in teammate Logan Sargeant’s car after he crashed his own in FP1, was 12th. Valtteri Bottas, Kevin Magnussen and Esteban Ocon were the other drivers eliminated.

In Q1, Daniel Ricciardo was eliminated from qualifying in the opening stage for the first time in his home race. His final time was deleted for exceeding track limits, and his second-best lap was only good enough for 18th.

Joining him in the bottom four were Zhou Guanyu, who complained of damage on his way to 19th, Pierre Gasly, who faces a post-session investigation for failing to follow the race director’s instructions while exiting the pit lane in 17th, and Kevin Magnussen, in 16th

Ocon became the first Alpine driver to progress to Q2 in the 2024 season despite brushing the barrier early in proceedings.

The 2024 Australian Grand Prix begins at 5.00 pm on Sunday and will be shown live on Sky Sport 2.

2024 Australian Grand Prix Starting Grid

Header Image: Getty Images/ Red Bull Content Pool