What if it was the right one for Max Verstappen in Australia? If his engine does not catch fire, this time, the Red Bull driver has a good chance of slamming his first victory in a GP he has never won. On Saturday, he went for his second pole of the season, just to get on the right track. Even if the qualifying session was more difficult than expected.
For this third round of the Formula 1 world championship, the Dutchman will start ahead of the two Mercedes of the British George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, delighted after a successful third part of qualifying.
Verstappen only edged Russell by 236/1000, a smaller gap than expected, perhaps due to the fairly cool conditions in qualifying. No smile, however, for the other Red Bull driver Sergio Perez, relegated to last position.
Checo Perez pissed off
The Mexican left the track in the first part of qualifying, symbolic of a catastrophic start to the weekend for the one who had won pole and the Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia two weeks earlier.
Already during practice on Saturday, he experienced several exits due to braking problems, which once again proved fatal to him on Saturday. “It’s always the same problem,” he cursed shortly after his mistake.
Verstappen, who is ahead of him by a small point, could therefore take the opportunity to fly away in the driver standings on Sunday at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne (5.278 km).