Teams' reaction after the hard-fought Melbourne qualifying

Regardless of scuffling with the stability of his automobile on Friday, Max Verstappen grabbed his third straight pole place in 2024 whereas Carlos Sainz made a powerful return following his latest surgical procedure with an excellent second place on the grid on the Australian Grand Prix. Here’s what groups needed to say after the essential qualifying session in Melbourne.

Purple Bull appeared to have a number of stability points in Melbourne, however F1’s present dominant crew bounced again when it actually mattered. Max Verstappen was unable to prime the primary two qualifying periods, however he turned the one driver to dip under the 1m16m mark to safe his fourth consecutive pole place.

Sergio Perez certified third, however he was handed a three-place grid penalty for impeding Nico Hulkenberg within the opening qualifying phase. Because of this, the Mexican will begin from sixth place on the thirty seventh Australian Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen, 1st, 1:15.915

“Despite the fact that it was a tougher weekend, attaining pole place right now was nice. I didn’t actually count on to make it on pole, however we stored on making regular enhancements all through qualifying and I felt in a position to push a little bit bit higher. Over the weekend, we have now been scuffling with the graining and have had a whole lot of issues to determine, however we simply wanted to maintain on nice tuning the automobile with the Group.

“The stability of the automobile obtained higher all through; as we went by way of the session it felt simpler to handle and I am very proud of the laps we did in Q3 and stunned myself. We clearly had all the knowledge from Q1 and Q2 and I feel we achieved two superb laps. It’s a little bit of an unknown tomorrow as it’s all the time straightforward to make a mistake right here and it’s more durable to handle the tyres. Though the weekend has been a bit powerful for us and I don’t assume tomorrow shall be a straightforward race, to nonetheless be on pole with the difficulties that we had is one thing we might be very pleased with.”

Sergio Perez, third, 1:16.274

“It was fairly difficult on the market; I feel that comfortable tyre was making issues very tough for us and getting in control on that set is kind of onerous however in the long run it actually labored effectively and we had been in a position to extract the utmost from the tyre. I didn’t get the utmost from my last lap and misplaced a tenth at flip one, I feel P2 was achievable, however I’m nonetheless happy with P3, I’m on the clear facet of the grid and might combat from there.

“It is a good start line, I’m assured, I need to get a powerful begin and get Carlos off the road. The degradation is rather a lot increased than final yr right here, will probably be a problem with Ferrari and it’ll come all the way down to technique and administration of the tyres. Hopefully we get the outcome we wish, that will be very good for the Group.”

Ferrari’s SF-24 was sturdy within the opening two rounds in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and the high- and medium-speed corners of the Albert Park circuit appears to spotlight the strengths of the Scuderia’s 2024 automobile much more. Charles Leclerc topped Free Apply 2 whereas Carlos Sainz set the benchmark in last observe. Nonetheless, qualifying didn’t pan out the way in which the Scuderia hoped for.

Sainz was in a position to take second on the grid for tomorrow’s Australian Grand Prix which is a powerful outcome after his well being points in Jeddah. Leclerc didn’t ship on his final qualifying lap. The Monegasque acknowledged {that a} last-minute entrance wing tweak modified the stability of the automobile which led to his essential mistake on his final scorching lap.

Charles Leclerc, fifth, 1:16.435

“I simply didn’t discover the proper feeling right now, ranging from FP3. In qualifying, the entrance wasn’t as sturdy as I needed, so I went aggressive with the entrance wing on my final run and in the end, it didn’t work out.

“With a superb begin, and if I get previous Lando (Norris), we are able to give attention to preventing the vehicles in entrance along with Carlos. The race is lengthy and there are 4 DRS zones at this observe, so overtaking is feasible. Let’s see what we are able to deliver house tomorrow.”
Carlos Sainz, 2nd, 1:16.185

“From lacking the race in Jeddah to this P2 in two weeks, it’s been an fascinating journey to say the least! I’m very completely happy as a result of coming to Australia I wasn’t even certain I used to be going to make it. Now we have managed to progress steadily session after session, figuring out that the goal was to reach as ready as attainable for qualifying. I attempted all the things to get pole within the final lap however it’s not possible to be disenchanted with right now’s outcome given the circumstances. Hopefully the physique holds on throughout all the race. So long as I’ve no ache and with the additional motivation from right now, I’ll combat to get a superb outcome tomorrow.”

McLaren delivered their greatest qualifying efficiency up to now this season with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri haven taken 4th and sixth on the grid. Each driver will transfer up a spot on the grid because of the three-place grid drop for Sergio Perez.

Group Principal Andrea Stella acknowledged that the improved efficiency was all the way down to the attribute of the Albert Park circuit that options extra high- and medium-speed corners than Bahrain and Jeddah. Furthermore, there are fewer low-speed turns and lengthy straights which have been a weak spot for McLaren for the reason that begin of final season.

Lando Norris, 4th, 1:16.315

“I’m proud of right now. I feel we made a superb turnaround. I’ve been struggling a little bit bit all weekend with stability. We modified fairly a bit going into right now and made some good steps ahead, so I’m now feeling a lot happier. I felt like I obtained a bit extra snug with the automobile, and as quickly as that occurs, I can roll-out some velocity. So, an enormous because of everybody right here at observe and again in Woking for his or her assist in a single day. A very good day, a superb place and hopefully we are able to switch it into good factors tomorrow.”

Oscar Piastri, sixth, 1:16.572

“P6 in quali. A good session, I in all probability peaked a bit early! Felt like Q2 was very sturdy after which simply didn’t fairly replicate it in Q3. So, I’ve obtained combined emotions. I feel the automobile had good tempo and I feel we’ve proven that we’ve obtained good race tempo, so we’ll see what we are able to do tomorrow.”

Mercedes’ efficiency has been extraordinarily tough to learn up to now this season. The Brackley-based outfit appeared to battle with excessive stability points in the course of the three days of pre-season testing to then flip up within the opening spherical and show encouraging velocity.

In Jeddah, the W15 confirmed flashes of nice efficiency, however this tempo pale in qualifying and the race. The state of affairs has been related up to now in Melbourne with the 2 vehicles having posted good lap occasions in FP1 and FP3, however George Russell and Lewis Hamilton dropped down the order within the essential qualifying session.

Lewis Hamilton, eleventh, 1:16.960

“The automobile felt nice in FP3. It was a lot improved from yesterday and we had been proper there on the entrance. Going into qualifying, the inconsistencies inside the automobile confirmed up although, sadly. The wind usually picks up right here within the afternoon and I feel we suffered with that right now, equally to how we struggled in FP2. The automobile is on a knife’s edge, and it’s tough as a driver to work round these inconsistencies.

“It’s not an amazing feeling for anybody within the crew in the mean time however we are going to hold working away. George did a superb job right now to get the automobile into Q3. I’ll be centered on coming again tomorrow and attempting to do a greater job.”

George Russell, seventh, 1:16.724
“It wasn’t the qualifying session we had been hoping for right now. It was difficult to get the tyres in the proper window, and it’s so tight on the market so a number of tenths can have a significant impression. The automobile felt sturdy in FP3 however sadly that feeling didn’t fairly translate into the afternoon.

“We all know the place we have to enhance the automobile and that’s within the high-speed corners. Sadly, there are an honest quantity of these right here in Melbourne, so this circuit is certainly not enjoying to our strengths. I do assume we’ll be in a greater place tomorrow although when everybody has the gasoline of their automobile. There are additionally many unknowns heading into the race. No one has run the Laborious tyre, and that would be the compound that’s primarily in use all through. We may see some graining. I feel we are going to see a extra thrilling race right here than we often see. And in the end, it’s the Grand Prix that counts.”

The 2 garages of the Visa Money RB crew endured very completely different fortunes in right now’s qualifying. Yuki Tsunoda excelled in each phase, getting himself into Q3 and taking P8 for the thirty seventh Australian Grand Prix.

On the opposite facet of the storage, Daniel Ricciardo didn’t ship in entrance of his house crowd. The Australian posted a time that will have been ok to earn the development into Q2, however he had his greatest lap time deleted for exceeding observe limits.

Daniel Ricciardo, 18th, 1:18.085

“I knew in Flip 4 I used to be sliding and preventing to place the automobile on the restrict, and in that lap, I washed a little bit bit wider. I knew I used extra kerb than I needed on the exit, however I wasn’t certain whether or not it will be off observe or not. I had already forgotten about it by Flip 5 and 6 till I got here into the storage and Pierre informed me the lap was deleted. The crew put in an enormous effort after the weekend in Saudi and we additionally introduced some new components right here which regarded higher.

“Once I crossed the road, I felt like I gave all of it I had and obtained all I may out of it. I used to be proud of the lap however I’m a little bit skeptical due to the place we’re when it comes to the stopwatch, as we had been nonetheless gradual with that lap. I’ve finished sufficient laps in quali through the years to know the place I’m, and I feel we’re nonetheless lacking some issues.

“We’ve been dealing with some struggles all weekend, however it’s not something specifically; I really feel the automobile and I’m snug with it, with the stability and the braking and that is why the grid place is absolutely painful. Tomorrow shall be an extended race, in all probability it’s a two-stop one, so maybe this can give us a bit extra alternatives. I really feel like I’ve obtained a little bit little bit of my anger out of one thing, so in all probability one thing in my driver room will get damaged after which I’ll really feel higher.”

Yuki Tsunoda, eighth, 1:16.788

“I’m very proud of the efficiency of the crew and myself. Undoubtedly an enormous credit score to them for giving me a really constant automobile all through the weekend. It’s been simpler to adapt and construct confidence in each session, so I undoubtedly really feel like I had a clear lap, was in a position to squeeze a number of milliseconds from every nook, and maximised the efficiency.

“I didn’t count on P8, and particularly Q3 after seeing Williams and different groups discover extra time in Q1, however I’m very completely happy; it’s the best qualifying place this season and displays the onerous work of the crew. Daniel was additionally wanting fast so it’s a little bit of a disgrace what occurred, however let’s see the way it goes tomorrow. It gained’t be straightforward, however we intention to have a clear race, do as a lot as we are able to, and rating factors!”

Having excelled in qualifying configuration in Manama and Jeddah, Fernando Alonso has been very inconsistent in Melbourne up to now. The Spaniard had an enormous second in Free Apply 1 and likewise on his first scorching lap within the final qualifying phase which is uncommon from him. The 2-time world champion conceded that he didn’t have the proper confidence within the automobile with the wind additionally having made issues tough for Aston Martin.

Lance Stroll appeared to have higher velocity than within the opening two rounds of the season, however he additionally made a vital mistake on his last lap which implies that he’ll kind the fifth row on the grid along with his team-mate.

Fernando Alonso, tenth, 1:17.552

“Getting each vehicles into Q3 was roughly what we anticipated right now. My first lap in Q3 wasn’t nice: I went off into the gravel at Flip Six. My mistake. So, on my last push-lap, I didn’t actually have full confidence within the automobile. It was difficult. I really feel we’re a little bit bit much less aggressive than we had been in Jeddah.

“The automobile was sliding; a little bit delicate within the wind; missing consistency. But it surely’s the identical for everyone. Nonetheless, we have to discover extra tempo. There shall be heaps happening tomorrow. It’s not going to be a straightforward race for the tyres – graining shall be a priority for everyone – so let’s see if we are able to handle them higher than the others. We need to get each vehicles house within the factors tomorrow.”

Lance Stroll, ninth, 1:17.072
“We had sturdy Q1 and Q2 periods right now: the automobile was performing effectively and I discovered an honest rhythm. I then had a little bit of a second at Flip 9 in Q3 and misplaced three or 4 tenths. It had been a superb lap up till then, so I feel we may have been taking a look at a few positions increased up if it hadn’t been for that wobble. Tomorrow goes to be a high-degradation race, so I feel it’s all about managing tyres. Now we have a superb race automobile and it’s a enjoyable observe to drive so sturdy factors would be the goal tomorrow.”

Williams have had an uncommon and really powerful weekend. Alexander Albon crashed out in Free Apply 1 with the chassis of his automobile struggling vital harm. And not using a spare chassis, the Grove-based squad has elected to withdraw Logan Sargeant from the Melbourne spherical with a view to maximize their possibilities this weekend.

It meant that Albon has taken over Sargeant’s automobile from the third observe onwards, and the Thai driver didn’t fail to impress, having taken twelfth on the grid.

Alex Albon, twelfth, 1:17.167

“Nobody desires to go racing like this, I don’t need to go racing like this. It’s one factor to make a mistake in FP1 after which again it up and try to ship in Qualifying however to be on this state of affairs, I take that duty on, and the importance just isn’t misplaced on me. It’s powerful however now the one factor I can do is give attention to my job, put it behind me and deal with it like a traditional weekend. Clearly, I’m a session down, however that’s all I may do and up to now, I feel we’ve finished a superb job. The final word pay again I can provide to the crew and Logan is to now go preventing for factors.”

Valtteri Bottas, thirteenth, 1:17.340

“Making it into Q2 for the primary time this season is unquestionably a optimistic – particularly in Australia, a circuit the place observe place is essential. Beginning nearer to the highest ten tomorrow ought to permit us to be within the battle to hopefully rating a degree or two, as we all know we might be preventing with the vehicles round us. Typically, I really feel like we’ve made a small step ahead as a crew and, provided that the sector is kind of tight, even slight enhancements could make an enormous distinction.

“The reprofiled entrance wing undoubtedly helped with the automobile stability and grip and we’ve seen an general higher efficiency in comparison with the earlier two races. I’m wanting ahead to racing in entrance of a incredible crowd tomorrow – it’s nice to really feel all of the love and help, which provides me fairly a lift. Melbourne is all the time a incredible race that may be fairly action-packed; I’ll give it my all to make the followers completely happy and put an amazing efficiency collectively.”

Zhou Guanyu, nineteenth, 1:18.188
“Right this moment’s qualifying has been a tough one for me: my final lap was going fairly effectively, however then I felt a powerful lack of downforce within the final sector earlier than realising that I misplaced a part of my entrance wing. It’s fairly unlucky, as I really feel I’d have comfortably made it into Q2; now I’ll must make up greater than anticipated throughout tomorrow’s race to be up there preventing for factors. Whereas my final qualifying periods haven’t been the luckiest ones, our race tempo has felt fairly good, and also you by no means know what’s going to occur at this observe. I’m wanting ahead to racing in entrance of an amazing crowd and hopefully climb up the order.”

Having carried out brilliantly within the opening two qualifying periods in Bahrain and Jeddah, Nico Hulkenberg was knocked out in Q1. The German driver was assist up by Perez on his first scorching lap whereas he was unable to ship a clear lap on his second contemporary set of softs.

Kevin Magnussen took 14th with a lap that was 4 tenths of a second shy of what was wanted for Q3. The Dane driver remains to be hopeful that his automobile may carry out higher within the race which may contain cautious tyre administration.

Nico Hulkenberg, sixteenth, 1:17.976
“I obtained held up on my first run by Perez which wasn’t ultimate, after which my second lap wasn’t clear. The lap was wanting promising till the exit of Flip 7 when the wind modified and I misplaced a bunch of time simply from that completely different wind path. I then misplaced the entrance tyres for the remainder of the lap and didn’t handle to enhance sufficient. We’re all very shut within the midfield so we’ll see, however the graining we’ve seen this weekend possibly provides some fascinating choices and potential tomorrow, so both method I’m wanting ahead to it.”

Kevin Magnussen, 14th, 1:17.427
“There have been some good laps in qualifying right now so I feel that’s about the place we’re with the automobile, in qualifying at the least. P14, it’s nonetheless inside attain of the highest 10 and I feel we simply must have a clear race and hope that tyre degradation is on our facet tomorrow. Degradation appeared okay, it’s whether or not our outright race tempo is sweet sufficient, which is the larger query. Hopefully we are able to tune it up for factors as that’s what we’re right here for.”

Alpine has endured a tough begin to its season, having been the slowest crew up to now this season. Nonetheless, the Albert Park circuit seems to favour the Anglo-French producer’s automobile which Esteban Ocon was in a position to capitalize on. The one-time race winner managed to get himself into Q2 to take fifteenth whereas his team-mate Gasly will line up in P17 on the grid.

Esteban Ocon, fifteenth, 1:17.697
“We’re progressing in the proper path, however we can’t be happy with the outcome and the place we’re proper now. The automobile was one of the best it’s felt for the reason that begin of the season and we extracted probably the most we may. I pushed the boundaries right now – and extra – clipping the wall on the last nook on my first run in Q1. I used to be lucky to not choose up any harm and we may flip the automobile round rapidly. We stored pushing to the top and managed to progress by way of to the subsequent a part of Qualifying.

“That was actually the utmost right now, however we’re conscious we nonetheless want to seek out some efficiency to make that subsequent step. We’ve seen that rather a lot can occur right here within the race, and as we’ve seen previously, if you happen to keep out of bother, you may seize alternatives to maneuver up the sector.”

Pierre Gasly, seventeenth, 1:17.982
“We had been having a reasonably first rate session up till my last run in Qualifying. It felt like we had a small downshift problem on the lap, so there’s actually some frustration to not be in Q2 right now. The laps throughout Q1 had been good up till the lap, which issues most on the finish. We’re nonetheless removed from the place we need to be – some issues will not be going our method – and there may be numerous evaluation forward of us. Nonetheless, we tried to maximise the automobile in difficult circumstances and we simply must hold bettering our understanding of what we have now in our arms. It gained’t be a straightforward race with tyre degradation. Possibly there shall be some alternatives and we’ll give it our greatest for the absolute best outcome.”

F1earlier