Problems with the transmission shaft in Q2 for the Dutchman from Red Bull: the Mexican teammate will start in front of Alonso and Russell
March 18, 2023 ( edit March 18, 2023 | 7:18 pm)
– Jeddah (Arabia)
At the second GP, F1 breathes a sigh of relief, even Red Bull is (almost) mortal! In qualifying for the Arabian GP, Max Verstappen was stranded in Q2 due to a transmission shaft problem and will start from 15th tomorrow. The Milton Keynes team consoled itself with the pole position of Sergio Perez, who evidently always has a favorable wind around here: this in 1’28″265 is the second pole of his career, the other had arrived right here on Last year. Second time for Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari, amazing. But due to the penalty for using the third ECU he will start 12th.
talent plates
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So the front row belongs to Fernando Alonso with the Aston Martin, good at preceding the Mercedes of George Russell and the second Ferrari of Carlos Sainz, who will therefore start from the second row. Lance Stroll will start fifth in front of Esteban Ocon’s Alpine, while for Lewis Hamilton with the Mercedes he will start from seventh box. The talent of Oscar Piastri is also starting to glimpse, good at reaching Q3 with McLaren and bringing home an eighth place ahead of Gasly’s Alpine.
so the q1
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In Q1 the two Red Bulls were immediately very fast and easily took the lead dictating the pace with Verstappen (1’28”761) and Perez. Behind them well initially Leclerc who preceded the Mercedes and Sainz. Some problems for Alonso who spun in turn 2 on his first attempt. Then the two-time world champion tried again and moved into fourth position behind Charles’ Ferrari. Yellow flag in the last 4 minutes for Logan Sargeant, who spun in turn 23 at the end of the track: however, the American of Williams managed to restart and the session continued. Thus ended Q1 with Verstappen and Perez ahead of the Aston Martins of Alonso and Stroll and the Ferraris of Leclerc and Sainz. Eliminated Tsunoda (AlphaTauri), Albon (Williams), De Vries (AlphaTauri), Norris (McLaren) and Sargeant (Williams).
so the q2
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In Q2 Alonso was immediately unleashed, who lowered Verstappen’s best time in Q1 by 4 thousandths. The Spaniard preceded the Ferrari of Leclerc and teammate Lance Stroll at the first attempt. Then the twist: Verstappen slowed down on the track during his fast attempt with the transmission shaft broken down and for him a sensational elimination with the 15th time. So the second part of qualifying ended with Perez ahead of Alonso, Leclerc, Sainz, Stroll, Russell, Ocon, Hamilton, Pistri and Gasly. Therefore eliminated Hulkenberg, Zhou, Magnussen, Bottas and Verstappen. Then in Q3 Perez’s best time with a flying RB19 and a Charles Leclerc that made the difference to stay just over a tenth behind him. Too bad about the penalty. Tomorrow the start of the GP at 6pm.
March 18, 2023 (change March 18, 2023 | 19:18)
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