Carlos Sainz Jr on Ferrari will start on pole position in Austin

A Ferrari will start at the head of the grid this Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas. Carlos Sainz Jr took pole position in the United States Grand Prix, the third of his Formula 1 career.

The Spaniard was ahead of his teammate Charles Leclerc, but the Monegasque, penalized after the installation of new parts on his power unit, will start ten rows lower in 12th place, according to the provisional grid communicated by the organizers. As a result, it is the double world champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull), author of the 3rd fastest time, who will start on the front row just behind Sainz.

Red Bull co-founder dies

“It was great fun, very tricky with the gusts of wind. I managed to do a good lap without making any mistakes. But Red Bull remains the favorite because they usually have the best race pace, ”said Sainz Jr, who gave the Scuderia its first ever pole in Austin. Its British rival, who learned while preparing for this qualifying session of the death at 78 of its co-founder and owner, the Austrian Dietrich Mateschitz, can hope to win the constructors’ title this Sunday.

Several scenarios are possible, the simplest being that its drivers, Max Verstappen and the Mexican Sergio Pérez, who will start in 9th position, despite his 4th time, because he too was penalized five places for an engine change beyond the authorized quota, finish ahead of Sainz Jr and Leclerc. A real possibility as Red Bull’s domination in the race has been overwhelming since the start of the season.

Affected by the death of Dietrich Mateschitz, Verstappen agreed that he had come through a difficult end to the day. “This is difficult news for everyone, for Red Bull and for the sport, and for me in general.” “We just missed pole, but there is a race tomorrow and we will try to win it for him,” added the Dutchman, winner in Austin last year and who can, if he wins, equal the record of 13 wins in a season, currently co-owned by Germans Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel.

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