Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claimed pole position for this weekend’s 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, ahead of the Mercedes of George Russell.
An uneventful first qualifying session gave way to an eventful second qualifying session where both the Red Bull or Sergio Perez and the Ferrari of Carlos sainz, Jr. were eliminated in the session – with Sainz, Jr. starting 12th and Perez right behind him in 13th.
The final qualifying session had Verstappen mostly uncontested as both McLaren drivers and both Mercedes drivers sorted out the next four spots and Russell, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton all benefited when McLaren’s Lando Norris exceeded track limits on his final qualifying attempt and had his lap time deleted – demoting him to 10th starting position on the grid.
2023 Qatar Grand Prix Top 10 Qualifiers
1] Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:23.778
2] George Russell Mercedes 1:24.219
3] Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:24.228
4] Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:24.305
5] Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 1:24.369
6] Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:24.424
7] Pierre Gasly Alpine 1:24.553
8] Esteban Ocon Alpine 1:24.763
9] Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo 1:25.058
10] Lando Norris McLaren 1:25.131
