‘I like driving in the rain’: Max Verstappen dominates spirited qualifying at Canadian Grand Prix
2023-06-18 06:45:00
The reigning double world champion was able to play with changing weather conditions to record the 25th pole position of his careerthe fifth of eight possible this season.
“It was a little complicated at certain places on the circuit but we made the right choices at the right time. I’m very happy to be in pole position. I like driving in the rain”he explained.
After a mixed day on Friday, when he only achieved the sixth fastest time in the second free practice session, Verstappen had already raised the bar on Saturday noon by being the fastest in the third session in the rain.
And he confirmed during qualifying, however tricky, which was contested on a track that was first wet, then dry, and even wet at the end of the session. If there were many surprises and penalties, the Dutchman was not taken in, unlike several other drivers.
angry gasly
Frenchman Pierre Gasly during qualifying for the Canadian GP, June 17, 2023 in MontrealPhoto AFP / TIMOTHY A. CLARY.
From Q1, it was Frenchman Pierre Gasly, fourth in qualifying at the last Grand Prix in Barcelona, who was eliminated with only the 17th time. But the Habs were hampered by the Ferrari of Spaniard Carlos Sainz (finally penalized three places on the grid by the marshals) and let their anger explode.
“I’m absolutely disgusted with this qualifying. It’s extremely dangerous what happened in front of me with Carlos. It’s not the first time it’s happened with him. It worked well all weekend and it’s ruining us qualifying. I’m just disgusted”lamented Gasly, who however gained two places on the grid after penalties imposed on the Japanese Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) and the Canadian Lance Stroll (Aston Martin).
In Q2, when the first drops of rain were back on Ile Notre-Dame, it was the Thai Alex Albon (Williams) who was the fastest to everyone’s surprise, ahead of Verstappen.
At the same time, the Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and the Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) took the door by achieving the 11th and 12th times, just like Stroll, the local of the stage, only 13th. But the Canadian will start in 16th position after being sanctioned for having hindered the French Esteban Ocon (Alpine).
“We will have a discussion but it remains inside the team. There are other drivers who did the same thing as what I asked and they went to Q3. It creates frustration and now he We have to be better than that. I hope that I will be listened to a little more in the future.”dropped Leclerc, annoyed, but who will finally start 10th after the penalty imposed on his teammate.
Alonso finally second
Q3, which started in light rain, was interrupted after four minutes by a red flag after Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren) left the track. Once her single-seater was evacuated, she was able to resume but in the pouring rain and no driver was then able to improve her time.
The big surprise came from Nico Hülkenberg who set the second fastest time with his modest Haas a few seconds before the red flag. But the German was also penalized three places on the grid for driving too fast under a red flag.
It is therefore Fernando Alonso who will start on the front row alongside Verstappen. The Spanish veteran, who will aim for a sixth podium in eight races in 2023 on Sunday, cheered the hearts of the thousands of Aston Martin fans who braved the rain to cheer him on.
The second row will be occupied by seven-time British world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and his compatriot and teammate George Russell, confirming the revival of Mercedes for a few weeks. Hülkenberg will start the race in fifth position, just ahead of Ocon.
“We started with a set of new tires less so honestly we can be very proud of what we did today, especially after having only done 14 laps in free practice. Positioning, choice of tires at the right moment, everything went really well”welcomed the Norman.
Lando Norris (McLaren) is in seventh place ahead of Sainz, who set the 8th fastest time but who will eventually start 11th behind Piastri, Albon and Leclerc.