MAX VERSTAPPEN stormed to pole position at the French Grand Prix after holding off Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.
The Dutch star, 23, recorded the only sub-1:30.00 lap to grab the top spot on the grid for Red Bull in Sunday’s race for the first time since the 2021 opener in Bahrain.
Verstappen will now start on the front row alongside Hamilton, with Bottas and team-mate Perez in third and fourth respectively.
Pierre Gasly took sixth place to split the two Ferraris, with Carlos Sainz enjoying a better afternoon than team-mate Charles Leclerc, who struggled in pursuit of a third straight pole.
Lando Norris, Fernando Alonso and Daniel Ricciardo completed the top ten after an exciting afternoon of racing at the Circuit Paul Ricard.
Verstappen had gone quickest in Q1, marginally ahead of Hamilton, team-mate Perez and Bottas.
But the big story came further down the grid, as Mick Schumacher reached Q2 for the first time in his fledgling career after finishing 14th.
In a cruel twist of fate, though, the son of F1 legend Michael crashed having already set his Q1 time, with the red flag waved, cutting the session short.
That meant Schumacher was unable to push for a spot in Q3, sitting out the second session and will start Sunday’s race in 15th.
Yuki Tsunoda will start from the back of the grid after failing to set a time following a crash early in the session.
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Lance Stroll, Nikita Mazepin, Kimi Raikkonen and Nicholas Latifi also failed to make it to Q2.
Joining Schumacher in not reaching Q3 were George Russell, Antonio Giovinazzi, Sebastian Vettel and Esteban Ocon after a much less eventful session.
Mercedes stormed to the top two positions in Q2, with Bottas and Hamilton leading Red Bull pair Perez and Verstappen.
But Verstappen ensured Mercedes didn’t secure their first pole since Spain after Ferrari’s recent dominance on Saturdays.
In the process, the Dutch ace bagged Red Bull’s first top spot on the grid since he clinched the top spot for the opening race of the season in Bahrain.
On his qualifying performance, Verstappen said: “So far it’s been a really positive weekend, on a track that is normally difficult for us.
“To get pole position was really nice but we have to finish it off and get 25 points – which we lost in Baku.
“Great promise from our side. The car felt good, so looking forward to it.”
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Hamilton congratulated Verstappen for grabbing pole on a ‘tough’ weekend for Mercedes – but warned him the ‘rain master’ is coming for him should the wet weather arrive.
The Brit said: “It’s been a really hard weekend trying to get the car into a happy place.
“Going round and round, making so many changes since practice one – chasing our tail.
“Congrats to Max, he did an an incredible job. I think they have a new engine and there’s a lot of time on the straights.
“We’ll keep pushing, keep fighting and giving it everything.
“Their long-run pace is a tenth or two quicker than us, but the car’s in a much different place now.
“We’re going to fight for a chance into Turn One and there could be some interesting strategy tomorrow.
“I think there could be some rain, so a chance to see the rain master.”
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
