Lewis Hamilton not happy with Max Verstappen in dramatic qualifying as Charles Leclerc beats Dutchman to Australian Grand Prix pole, while Fernando Alonso and Nicholas Latifi crash out

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Lewis Hamilton will start the Australian Grand Prix from fifth on the grid, after he was left fuming with rival Max Verstappen on his playing lap in a dramatic morning of qualifying in Melbourne.

Charles Leclerc secured pole position for Sunday’s race, with Verstappen in second and Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez third, after two big crashes interrupted an entertaining Saturday session.


Hamilton felt Verstappen didn’t give him enough room on his flying lap in Australian GP qualifying

Getty


Leclerc continued his fine start to the season for Ferrari

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Lando Norris will line up in fourth for McLaren, while fellow Brit George Russell will start one place behind Mercedes partner Hamilton in sixth, while both Fernando Alonso and Nicholas Latifi caused two red flags with big crashes.

Hamilton will be happy with fifth – a big improvement from the last race in Saudi Arabia where the seven-time world champion qualified only 16th before taking a sole point for finishing 10th in the race.

The British star’s bid for a record eighth crown has been derailed by his uncompetitive Mercedes machinery, as he already sits 29 points behind championship leader Leclerc, and he was left even more frustrated following a move from rival Verstappen, who appeared to interrupt his flying lap.

Hamilton was annoyed during Q2 as he was forced to squeeze past the Red Bull during his flying lap, with the cars coming very close to a collision.

On the team radio, Hamilton was heard saying: “What’s happening with the Red Bull?”

“Copy – complete the lap,” came the reply from the Mercedes paddock, with Hamilton adding: “I had a problem, the Red Bull was in the way.”

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Verstappen didn’t leave the Mercedes driver enough room as he looked to set a fast time on his flying lap, but the Dutchman didn’t appear to know Hamilton was racing.

On team radio, Verstappen said: “Wait, was he on a lap?

His team replied:: “Hamilton was on a lap, yeah.”

The Silver Arrows remain some way off rivals Red Bull and Ferrari, who have established themselves at the top of the class for 2022. Hamilton ultimately languished almost a full second behind Leclerc – a huge gap in F1 terms.

The top ten drivers were forced to change their visors for Q3 with the sun setting at Albert Park.

“Mate, I can’t see s*** with the sun,” said Verstappen. “I am completely blinded.”


Leclerc will start on pole at Sunday’s Australian GP

AFP

The final action was then delayed with just six minutes and 58 seconds remaining after Fernando Alonso crashed out.

The double world champion lost control of his Alpine through Turn 11, running into the gravel and then the tyre wall.

“I lost the hydraulics and could not change gear,” he said over the radio.

Alonso had just set the fastest middle sector of all, but will start no higher than tenth. A delay of 13 minutes followed as Alonso’s wounded machine was cleared from danger.

Earlier, the opening period was stopped for a quarter of an hour following a clumsy collision between Canadian duo Nicholas Latifi and Lance Stroll.

With both men gearing up for a speedy lap, Stroll was caught unawares as Latifi made a move on his inside on the approach to Turn 6.

Contact was made, with Latifi sent spiralling into the wall. Aston Martin driver Stroll screamed: “**** Latifi, man. He’s just ****** hit me, man.”

Fellow Canadian Latifi said: “I don’t understand what he was doing. He wasn’t looking in his mirrors. The f****** car is destroyed.”

The suspension did allow the Aston Martin mechanics to complete their repair job on Sebastian Vettel’s machine – damaged in final practice.

Vettel completed one flying lap and qualified 18th, bumped up one spot on the grid following Alexander Albon’s three-place penalty for his collision with Stroll at the last round in Saudi Arabia.

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Source: TalkSport.com Motorsport