Formula 1
MAX EDGES OUT LECLERC FOR POLE IN AUSTRIA! TRACK LIMIT CHAOS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED SAYS GUNTHER. FERNANDO STILL HAPPY WITH P7, LCH KEEPS PUSHING FOR F1 RULE CHANGES AND, CHECO SEARCHING FOR HIS MEXICAN MOJO.
MAX VERSTAPPEN
SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA – JUNE 30: Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing is presented with the Pirelli Pole Position award by Director of Pirelli F1 Mario Isola in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on June 30, 2023 in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool.
“It’s great to be on pole here at the Red Bull Ring, it feels good. It wasn’t a straightforward qualifying because of all the track limits. It’s very hard to judge the white line here, a lot of us got caught out so at least it wasn’t just us. Today was all about surviving, we just needed to bank the laps as we weren’t able to push hard.
It’s such a short lap here so we are all pretty close together. We’ve got a long weekend ahead so a lot can happen, tomorrow will be a completely different story. Today, the car was quick and we were ahead, that’s the most important thing.”
CHECO
“I think we most definitely had the pace today and you could see that as qualifying progressed. I’m disappointed, especially with my final lap. It is always fine margins at this circuit and the first two laps that I had deleted for track limits the rules were clear and I accept those decisions from the stewards. On my final run in Q2 I tried to push as best as I could within those limits and was on a good lap but was in traffic and that was trickier to keep clean. It is what it is, we look forward to tomorrow, it is a new opportunity.
Sergio Perez said “the system is wrong” when it comes to lap times being deleted after the Red Bull driver was eliminated in Q2 at the Austrian Grand Prix for three separate deletions.
Race control retained a strict approach to track limits at the Red Bull Ring this year, with the white line defining the track edge and if no part of any wheel is within it then the time will be deleted. Perez had seen his first two laps in Q2 deleted so was told to ensure he did not take any risks on his final run. He says another car impeded him that forced him to go off track and get eliminated in 15th place.
“On the way in we were a bit confused, but then once I got the feedback that it was on the way into Turn 10, it was all clear,” Perez said. “I was on a good lap but then all of a sudden on my final lap I found I think (Alex) Albon, and I just went straight, I could not stop. I think I lost a tenth or a bit more than that just by going straight but the stewards wouldn’t consider that I was blocked.
Fernando Alonso
portrait, fan zone, Red Bull Ring, GP2309a, F1, GP, Austria
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team, in the fan zone
“I feel good after that Qualifying session. It’s always intense qualifying here where the lap times are so close. If you look at the timing board throughout the three sessions, there are two or three tenths between a number of cars. We had one lap time deleted in Q2, which forced us to put an extra set of tyres on the car to progress.
It then meant we only had one chance on new tyres in Q3, which wasn’t ideal. However, sixth and seventh are strong starting positions for us. I think it’ll be interesting and exciting with the weather as there is a chance of rain tomorrow and maybe dry conditions on Sunday. The car feels good, so I’m optimistic heading into the rest of the weekend.”