Verstappen lands pole for Australian GP ahead of Sainz
Max Verstappen's perfect season rolls on.
The Red Bull driver secured pole position for the Australian Grand Prix on Saturday, marking the third straight race to start the year in which he's aced qualifying.
Verstappen converted pole position into a win at Albert Park last season for the first victory of his F1 career at the circuit.
VERSTAPPEN DOES IT AGAIN!
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 23, 2024
He wins pole for the 2nd year in a row for the #AUSGP as he breaks into the 1:15 bracket. Sainz comes back from appendix surgery to lineup P2 tomorrow.#F1 pic.twitter.com/N1FltzhwG8
Carlos Sainz qualified second in his return. The Ferrari driver missed the Saudi Arabian GP after undergoing emergency surgery for appendicitis.
"It's been a tough couple of weeks - a lot of days in bed waiting to see if I could be here today," Sainz said. "To make it to this weekend, and then obviously to put it on the front row after leading through qualifying, I was almost not believing it.
"I'm not gonna lie, I'm not in my most comfortable state when I am driving out there, but I can get it done."
Sergio Perez was assessed a three-place grid penalty for impeding Nico Hulkenberg. The Red Bull driver will begin Sunday's race in sixth.
Lewis Hamilton was knocked out in Q2. The eight-time pole-sitter at the Australian GP posted his worst qualifying at the circuit since 2010.
Daniel Ricciardo had his final lap time deleted and failed to get out of Q1 in his home race. The Australian hasn't advanced to Q3 in any of the three races this season. Meanwhile, fellow Aussie Oscar Piastri starts sixth, two spots behind McLaren teammate Lando Norris.