2023-08-26 14:33:41
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Q1 – The rain is still involved
While the F2 Sprint Race did not come to an end due to the rain, the Zandvoort circuit was starting to dry out as F1 qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix kicked off. Intermediate tires were required. Despite the gradual improvement in conditions, several pilots were trapped while using the clearance zones, including Max Verstappen.
The lap times continued to drop throughout this first phase of qualifying, with no driver being able to afford to slow down at the risk of plummeting into the “red zone”. Lewis Hamilton et Charles Leclerc experienced it but both were able to qualify. The pilot Ferrari however, narrowly escaped elimination, by five hundredths of a second, and was very dissatisfied with his team’s management of the session.
While the controls have often changed hands, we have often seen the pilots McLaren and Max Verstappen in the lead. But it’s Alexander Albon who set the fastest time (1’20″939). The return of the rain at the end of Q1 doomed Zhou Guanyu, Esteban Ocon, Kevin Magnussen, Valtteri Bottas et Liam Lawsonwho might not improve their time.
It should be noted that the commissioners opened an investigation into two cases of corking, the first involving Oscar Piastri et Carlos Sainz and the other Lewis Hamilton and Lance Stroll.
Eliminated in Q1 : Zhou, Ocon, Magnussen, Bottas, Lawson
Q2 – Hamilton stumbles, Alpine flows
As the weather kept changing, the scenario at the start of Q1 repeated itself in Q2 with a drying track. Verstappen took control and improved his mark (1’20″690), but Lando Norris did better (1’20″629). At the start of the last minutes, Verstappen was once more leading (1’20″282) and a dry trajectory began to appear. Pérez, Tsunoda, Hülkenberg, Gasly and Sainz were threatened with elimination.
Due to the improved conditions, several opted for new intermediates at the end of Q2. This notably enabled Pérez and Sainz to earn a place in the top 10, Albon to move up to third and Sargeant to snatch qualification at the end of the suspense! Verstappen, who also pitted, set the fastest time of 1:18.856.
surprise in camp Mercedes, Hamilton was eliminated. This was also the case for Gasly, Alpine therefore lost its two representatives during the first two phases of qualifying.
Eliminated in Q2 : Stroll, Gasly, Hamilton, Tsunoda, Hulkenberg
Q3 – Verstappen slips through the red flags
It was still too early to do so in Q2 but a switch to slicks in Q3 seemed inevitable. However, Verstappen, Pérez and Piastri were sent to the track with intermediate tires, unlike their opponents on soft slicks.
Meanwhile, the pilots Williams occupied the first two places, Albon (1’15″743) ahead of Sargeant. The members of the Grove team however did not have the opportunity to smile since the #2 went off the track shortly following and collided the wall at high speed at turn 2. The accident destroyed his Williams and brought out the red flag.A long interruption was necessary in order to proceed with the repair of the rail.
On the restart, the McLarens took command (1’12″049 for Norris, two tenths ahead of Piastri) while Albon made the decision not to complete his timed lap in order to put on soft nines. Verstappen was third by three tenths… before a new red flag, caused by Leclerc’s accident at turn 9.
Drivers only had one timed attempt left once the green flag was waved once more. Verstappen hit hard clocking a time of 1’10″567, no one was able to respond to the stage regional. Norris settled for second place, half a second away. Albon achieved the best qualifying performance of his career with the fourth time, beaten on the wire by Russell.Alonso, Sainz, Pérez, Piastri, Leclerc and Sargeant completed the top 10.
Dutch Grand Prix – Qualifying
Q1
Q2
Q3
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#Verstappen #unstoppable #garden #Albon #4th
