F1 Australian GP: Verstappen cruises to pole position

No prizes in guessing Red Bull’s Max Verstappen stormed to take the pole in the Australian Grand Prix. Carlos Sainz from Ferrari did give some stiff competition to the defending champion but the Red Bull man set ablaze the track in Q3 and was the only racer to clock in 1:15s. A mixed bag emotion for Sergio Perez as he took the final podium spot for Red Bull but later the Mexican was handed a three-place grid penalty.

F1 Australian GP: Perez demoted to sixth place

Perez had a decent set of qualifying laps and was within touching distance of even ensuring the Red Bull 1-2. Sainz had other plans as he looked like a man possessed and wanted to make the most of this final season with Scuderia Ferrari as he refused to give an inch and snapped the second place on the grid. 

The Mexican’s jubilance for finishing third was short-lived as the race stewards handed Perez a three-position drop penalty. The officials stated that the Red Bull driver was penalised for impeding Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg during Q1. According to the stewards, due to insufficient warning by Red Bull to Perez, Hulkenberg was forced to take avoiding action on his flying lap after encountering Perez – on an out lap – into Turn 13.

Perez will start sixth on the grid while McLaren’s Lando Norris is promoted to third followed by Charles Leclerc from Ferrari and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. 

F1 Australian GP: Early qualifying exit for Hamilton

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton’s qualifying session in Melbourne went from bad to worse as he will start 11th on the grid. The Mercedes driver was eliminated at Q2 making it his worst start in the Australian Grand Prix since 2010. Even though the Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff was dejected and said not good enough for the team, there was a sliver of hope for the team as George Russell managed to take the seventh position.