Formula 1: Verstappen senses chance at rain chaos to McLaren-Gala

Max Verstappen was surprised. “To be honest, I’m pretty surprised after yesterday that I am sitting here,” said the defending champion on the sofa after the gripping first qualifying of the new Formula 1 season. Third place for the four-time world champion, beaten on Albert Park Circuit only from the impressively strong McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piatri.

Home fans cheer too early

At the last minute, Vice World Champion Norris still snatched the pole of his teammate born in Melbourne – it would have been the first for an Australian at home race. The sweaty fans already stood, clapped and screamed at over 32 degrees, when Norris ended his only valid attempt at a rapidly with a narrow lead of 84 thousandths of a second. It is the tenth pole for the 25-year-old.

“The car is extremely fast and if you get everything together, it is incredible,” enthused Norris: “But we never drove with it.” Why did he still push that after? After the heat today, a thunderstorm with a storm and rain threatens at the Grand Prix of Australia this Sunday (6:00 a.m. CET/Sky): “It would definitely not be easy.”

Especially since everyone knows: rain races are offset. “When it gets wet, crazy things can happen,” said the Red Bull star. “It gets pretty slippery here, but that’s the same for everyone.”

He demonstrated several times that he can be a class in such conditions. Most recently in the rain of São Paulo when he drove to victory from starting place 17 last year.

And the 27 -year -old Dutchman already knows that he is on his own at the start of the race this year. In a co-excretion with some positive surprises, but above all the great Ferrari disappointment with record world champion Lewis Hamilton only in eighth place and his team-mate in seven, Verstappen’s new teammate Liam Lawson was already out of the first section.

Early end for the Mercedes newcomer

Only 18th place for the New Zealand, who replaced the long -term successful and then retired Mexican Sergio Pérez at Red Bull. But not only he had to leave his car early.

Mercedes-Rokie Andrea Kimi Antonelli also got it: the 18-year-old Italian and successor to Hamilton did not get out of place in the new silver arrow. A problem on the underbody slowed down the teenager, whose team -mate George Russell drove to four.

The only German driver, Nico Hülkenberg (37), was also in the clean 17th – also beaten by his 17 -year -old Brazilian teammate Gabriel Bortoleto, who made it to 15th place.

The crucial rounds

When it came to the struggle for the top ten, Verstappen drove to the top when the first attempt. The time of Norris was canceled – he had left the route with his McLaren. That is not allowed. “You have to take a risk here, but on my first round I exaggerated it,” he admitted. But when it comes to a decisive circulation, Norris raced nervous and flawlessly onto the poles.

Those with whom not only Norris had expected were passed on. Even ahead of Ferraris Duo Leclerc/Hamilton, Yuki Tsunoda from Red Bull’s sister team Racing Bull and Alexander Albon by Williams pushed.

Hamilton was also amazed at the deficit of the Scuderia to the top: “I definitely didn’t know that we are eight tenths of a second today. There is a lot to analyze for us.”