Max Verstappen got one of the closest pole positions of the season this Friday, which will guarantee him start from the first position in the sprint race this Saturday at Red Bull Ring , the track that hosts the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix this weekend of Formula 1.
The Dutch driver surged to the top of the table at the start of Q3, with a lap of 1m05.092s behind the wheel of his RB18, before the session was red-flagged following accidents involving Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
Returning to the track, Ferrari prevailed with a Leclerc who set a time of 1:05.013 that took him to first position, followed by Carlos Sainz (1:05.660).
Verstappen had failed to complete two strong opening rallies, so it looked like his third pole position in a row at Spielberg would slip away. However, he got a very good last sector that allowed him to keep the pole position.
“It was a bit difficult. I think the long wait [caused by the red flag] is never good,” Verstappen began his analysis of Q3. “Then we went out and my first few corners weren’t the best, so I knew for the rest of the lap I had to get it right to be able to do anything.
“I think the last sector was much better and more on the edge. It’s always nice to be ahead,” he explained.
Asked about the close gap to the Ferrari drivers, after all three dropped to less than a tenth, the Red Bull driver commented: “It’s been like this all year. Sometimes they’re ahead, sometimes we are ahead [of us].”
“I think the car is good in the race. Normally our qualifying has always been a bit of a weak point, so hopefully tomorrow will be the same and we’ll be competitive in the race,” he said.
As has become customary in Austria in recent seasons, local fans flocked to the circuit to cheer on Verstappen. “It makes me smile to see that they go crazy when I enter the track. I hope they have a good time, also outside it,” concluded the Dutchman.
