Oracle Red Bull Racing’s newly crowned four-time Forumla 1 world champion Max Verstappen bounced back from a difficult Sprint race finish to secure pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix in the final moments of qualifying at the Lusail International Circuit.
Verstappen, who secured his fourth consecutive world title at last weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix, struggled for speed in the sixth and final Sprint race of the season and could finish no better than eighth. He turned that around spectacularly in Q3 however, when he bested the time of Mercedes driver George Russell by just 0.055s to claim his first pole position since the Austrian Grand Prix in June.
Sergio Pérez endured a difficult day in the second Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20. Changes made to his changes to his car under parc ferme conditions meant that the Mexican started the Sprint from the pit lane and finished 19th, while he recovered to qualify for Sunday’s Grand Prix in ninth place on the grid.
Visa Cash App RB’s Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda both suffered difficult days on track, finishing in 16th and 17th in the Sprint race. Tsunoda fared better in the qualifying sessions, ending the session in 14th, while Lawson will start from 17th on the grid.
Red Bull Racing | Photo: Red Bull Racing
