In Melbourne, the Monegasque Charles Leclerc aboard a Ferrari will start from pole position for the Australian Grand Prix, the third race of the season, held on the semi-urban streets and the Albert Park circuit. On the grid alongside him is Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, the defending world champion, who will take second. The home stretch of the weekend has brought a flurry of excitement as teams and drivers chase early-season momentum. Leclerc’s pace in qualifying was outstanding, setting the tone on a track that blends high-speed sections with tight corners, while Sergio Pérez of Red Bull and the Ferrari pairing of Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso faced a mix of fortune and misfortune across Q3, reshaping expectations for the race ahead.
Leclerc, at 24 years old, secured his eleventh pole and the second of the year by clocking a lap of 1 minute 17.868 seconds on the 5,303-meter Albert Park loop. This performance allowed him to occupy the front row for Sunday’s showdown, with Verstappen right beside him on the grid. The qualifying session demonstrated the delicate balance teams must achieve between downforce, tire management, and engine confidence on a surface that can reward bold, late-braking moves yet punish any misstep with a wall kiss or a drive-through for pressure. Verstappen’s consistency remains a hallmark, as he seeks to extend his championship lead early in the season, while Leclerc eyes a strong start to cement Ferrari’s competitiveness after a challenging winter development cycle.
[Consulta la clasificación del Mundial de F1]
Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz faced a tricky session that ultimately left him positioned fifth on the grid, and his fellow Spaniard Fernando Alonso, chasing a strong result for Alpine, found himself tenth after a dramatic session. The Spaniard’s afternoon featured a notable incident when he curtailed his lap due to an accident involving Alpine machinery at 6:58, prompting a red flag and a temporary halt that paused the momentum of the final run. Despite the interruption, Alonso had shown pace earlier, with strong initial laps that momentarily suggested a potential late surge before misfortune shaped the final outcomes.
Alonso’s early speed was evident as he pushed aggressively through the first two sectors, yet a hydraulic issue in the second sector hampered his momentum late in the session. The issue affected his ability to late-brake into the track’s fourteenth corner, resulting in contact with the wall and damage to the left-front area of the car. The setback underscored how even a slight mechanical hiccup can jeopardize a driver’s best lap, especially when chasing a top grid position on a circuit that demands precision and consistency across every sector.
[Consulta el calendario del Mundial de la F1]
This red flag also had a knock-on effect for Carlos Sainz. He was fourth in Q1 and second in Q2, but his run was nullified just meters from the finish line on the first attempt of the session, as Alonso’s stoppage removed the clock from his advantage. When he finally rolled back onto track for the final attempt, Sainz encountered hopes of a smoother run dashed by a late mechanical challenge and tire warm-up difficulties that prevented him from maximizing his final lap. The day served as a reminder that in Formula 1, a moment can swing the balance between pole and mid-pack, and every tiny variable can determine who starts at the sharp end of the grid.
- Charles Leclerc 01:17.868
- Max Verstappen 01:18.154
- Sergio Perez 01:18.240
- Lando Norris 01:18.703
- Lewis Hamilton 01:18.825
- George Russell 01:18.933
- Daniel Ricciardo 01:19.032
- Esteban Ocon 01:19.061
- Carlos Sainz 01:19.408
- Fernando Alonso 01:19.192
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