For the first time so far in 2024, Max Verstappen didn't have the smoothest build up to qualifying this weekend in Melbourne, and Red Bull looked to be up against stiff competition from their Ferrari rivals.
Verstappen had been in second place in all three practice sessions heading into Saturday afternoon's qualifying, which saw him was beaten by Carlos Sainz in the opening two rounds.
But just when it looked as though Ferrari were about to realise their hopes of taking their first pole of the season, Verstappen stamped his authority on the proceedings with a Q3 time of 1:15.915s that proved 0.270s quicker than Sainz.
It means Verstappen still start tomorrow's race at the front with Sainz alongside him, while Sergio Perez will be in P4 next to McLaren's Lando Norris.
“It was a bit unexpected,” Verstappen said of his pole winning performance, having complained about his RB20 understeering during the session.
“It was a bit of a tricky weekend so far but we managed to be there at the end, so I’m very happy with that," he said. “I was very happy with Q3. Both of those laps felt really, really nice and that was very enjoyable."
But Verstappen was still concerned about his prospects in tomorrow's race after acknowledging significant improvements from Ferrari this weekend.
“They seem very quick also in the long run,” he said. "So it's a bit of a question mark for tomorrow, but I guess that makes it very exciting.”
Verstappen's team mate Perez was satisfied with third despite the large gap in final Q3 lap times, insisting that there was “definitely there was a bit more in [the car].”
“My first sector was not great, especially turn one on my final attempt,” he explained. “I didn’t hook in the whole combination, which straight away is a tenth, tenth and a half.
“But I’m happy," he insisted. "I think given how we’ve been during the weekend [up to now] I think it’s been a very nice progression.
"I think starting position is not that relevant at the moment," he added. “I think tomorrow we’ve got a fight on our hands to the Ferraris and to the rest of the field because I think the degradation is going to be very high.
“We’ve changed a bit our strategy for tomorrow," he pointed out. "So let’s see who can survive the most on the degradation side."
Perez also had a post-session appointment with the race stewards to discuss an incident in which he is alleged to have impeded Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg in the first round of qualifying.
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