Australian GP - Qualifying

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Rolex Australian GP

Qualifying 

March 23, 2024

Verstappen secured pole position in the Australian GP, with Sainz in second place, while Perez was handed a grid penalty.

In Melbourne, Australia, Max Verstappen clinched his third consecutive pole position by outpacing Ferrari's Carlos Sainz to claim the quickest time during the qualifying session for the Australian Grand Prix.

Verstappen's Red Bull clocked a time that was 0.270 seconds faster than Sainz's around the 3.2-mile circuit. Sainz, who had recently undergone surgery to have his appendix removed before the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, secured the second spot.

"I'm not in my most comfortable state when I'm driving out there, but I can get it done,"After getting out of his Ferrari, Sainz mentioned. "There is a lot of discomfort and weird feelings but no pain that stops me from pushing flatout."

Sergio Perez's second Red Bull initially qualified third, 0.359s behind Verstappen, but was later penalized three grid places for impeding Nico Hulkenberg. Consequently, McLaren's Lando Norris now starts in third place, while Perez drops back to sixth.

Charles Leclerc, who was a strong contender for pole position prior to the session, made an error in the final sector of his last lap. As a result, he finished the session 0.520s behind the pole-sitter and will start fourth on the grid.

Australian Oscar Piastri secured the sixth fastest time for McLaren at his home race, ahead of George Russell in seventh and Yuki Tsunoda in eighth for Red Bull's junior team, RB.

Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso completed the top ten positions for Aston Martin, with Alonso running wide at Turn 6 during his first attempt in Q3.

Lewis Hamilton missed out on Q3 for the first time this season due to time lost in the final two corners of his lap. The Mercedes driver, who had expressed concerns about his car's performance during second practice on Friday, narrowly missed out on the final Q3 spot to teammate Russell by 0.059s.

Alex Albon secured 12th place in qualifying for Williams after taking over his teammate Logan Sargeant's chassis before the final practice session. Albon had damaged his original chassis during Friday's first practice, and with Williams lacking a spare due to manufacturing delays, team principal James Vowles decided to field Albon over Sargeant, who observed from the garage.

Valtteri Bottas will start 13th for Sauber, ahead of Kevin Magnussen's Haas and Esteban Ocon, who successfully guided his Alpine into Q2 for the first time this season.

Nico Hulkenberg narrowly missed out on advancing to Q2, trailing teammate Magnussen by 0.2s and will begin the race in 16th position. Pierre Gasly claimed the 17th spot for Alpine, ahead of Daniel Ricciardo, whose fastest lap was invalidated for exceeding track limits at the exit of Turn 4.

Daniel Ricciardo will start 18th at his home race, followed by Zhou Guanyu, who posted the slowest time after a part of his front wing failed as he crossed the exit kerbs at Turn 10.

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Australian GP 2024 Qualifying Results

Disqualified from Q1

16. Nico Hülkenberg, Haas (1:17.976)

17. Pierre Gasly, Alpine (1:17.982)

18. Daniel Ricciardo, RB ( 1:18.085)

19. Zhou Guanyu, Sauber (1:18.188)

Disqualified from Q2

11. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes (1:16.960)

12. Alexander Albon, Williams (1:17.167)

13. Valtteri Bottas, Sauber (1:17.340)

14. Kevin Magnussen, Haas (1:17.427)

15. Esteban Ocon, Alpine (1:17.697)

Top 10 Qualifying from Australian GP 2024

1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull (1:15.915)

2. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari (1:16.185)

3. Sergio Pérez, Red Bull (1:16.274)

4. Lando Norris, McLaren (1:16.315)

5. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari (1:16.435)

6. Oscar Piastri, McLaren (1:16.572)

7. George Russell, Mercedes (1:16.724)

8. Yuki Tsunoda, RB (1:16.788)

9. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin (1:17.072)

10. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin (1:17.552)