Qatar GP 2023
OCTOBER 6, 2023
Qualifying Report - Max Verstappen on pole in slippery qualifying
© Red Bull
By Peter Habicht
Max Verstappen in the Red Bull-Honda claimed his 10th pole position this season for Sunday’s race on a sandy Lusail Circuit, managing a best time of 1m23.778s under the lights as drivers struggled to keep their cars within track limits with winds and a lack of grip which made finding the limit difficult.
George Russell, who pulled out a lap in his Mercedes to take the front row alongside the Dutchman shared his experience, “It was a really tricky day for everybody … new tarmac … was really slippery, super windy here so all the sand was blowing onto the track.”
Twelve drivers set times only to have them deleted after exceeding track limits as those behind moved up the grid order. Lewis Hamilton was promoted to third fastest after the session ended when the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were found to have driven all four wheels beyond the painted lines during their hot laps.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, the Alpines of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon as well as Alfa Rome’s Valtteri Bottas would all benefit from the McLaren times being deleted as they finished in order.
Norris went on to take 10th on the grid, followed by AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, the Spaniard having been eliminated in Q2 following problems in traffic and difficulty in turn 1 with the car.
Red Bull’s Sergio Perez was 13th after a disappointing performance ahead of Alex Albon and the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg. Albon shared what it was like out in the Williams on a windy track tonight, “We need a wind blocker…every corner’s different…there’s no rhythm, its all kind of instinctive driving, which is fun, but its not easy.”
Albon’s teammate Logan Sargeant qualified 16th ahead of a very frustrated and disappointed Lance Stroll, who failed to get his Aston Martin out of Q1, highlighting the Canadian’s struggles this season. AlphaTauri’s Liam Lawson was behind in 18th in what may is expected to be his final appearance this year in the car as teammate Daniel Ricciardo prepares to race later this month at the USGP.
Kevin Magnussen will start in his Haas alongside Guanyu Zhou’s Alfa Romeo in the last row on Sunday, as the Sprint Shootout and Sprint will take place tomorrow, in which Max Verstappen can clinch the World Drivers’ Title.
Saturday’s Sprint Shootout will set the grid order for the Sprint starting at 4p, and the Sprint will begin at 8:30p.