Starting grid Classification and times
Tension between Alonso and the FIA From the reprimand to a conversation in front of the entire 'paddock'
Free practice 3 Leclerc, again the fastest
Fernando Alonso "In Miami, the stewards were not very professional"
World Cup 2022 The pulse between Leclerc and Verstappen
On the descent towards the
chicane
, precisely the most favorable sector for Ferrari,
Charles Leclerc
tripped over a curb, losing his first bullet, exposing himself to an extreme situation.
Without a time trial to his credit, the Monegasque faced a great dilemma.
Clench your teeth in search of
pole position
or put your furniture away, thinking about the fight for the World Cup with
Max Verstappen
?
Anyone would have hesitated, but not him, author of a prodigious lap in Montmeló (1:18.750), three tenths better than the reigning champion, and four ahead of
Carlos Sainz
.
Not even at home can the man from Madrid contain his garage partner, a great dominator of Saturdays.
Even Sainz Sr. had to bow to the evidence, giving Leclerc the badge of his fourth
pole position
in six races.
And his offspring had enough of him to keep his cool against Verstappen, who warned of a loss of power when he launched his last attack.
The top speed of the Red Bull was not going to be enough on this occasion.
Because the balance of the SF-75 in the slow zones and the aggressiveness of a pilot with nerves as tempered as steel, were an essential advantage.
The immediate challenge for Ferrari will be to keep the degradation of its tires at bay and not lose Verstappen, who showed great pace in the long runs on Friday, on the radar.
George Russell
should join
the fight for the podium between Sainz and
Sergio Pérez
, at the wheel of a Mercedes that is beginning to show signs of improvement.
The British, fourth on the grid, with 12 hundredths of an advantage against
Lewis Hamilton
, will not bluff .
Now that they can keep that infernal
porpoising
at bay, there's reason for hope in
Toto Wolff
's garage .
Two Haas in Q3
As many or more as uneasiness in Alpine, which saw
Fernando Alonso
fall down the humiliating seventeenth step.
Nothing could be saved in Q1 for the French team, unable to find solutions in critical moments, when the asphalt conditions had improved exponentially.
The first to leave the record was
Mick Schumacher
, cutting the Alpine time by almost four tenths.
His example was followed by
Daniel Ricciardo
and
Yuki Tsunoda
, while Alonso saw his last attempt aborted, with new tires.
In that first sector, the hope of an entire hobby, which had been fighting the dog days since before noon, had been extinguished.
Explanations could be demanded from
Otmar Szafnauer
for his decision to launch Alonso in the middle of traffic or for keeping
Esteban Ocon
in the garage, exposed to attack from his rivals.
Although he saved the ballot, by 74 thousandths against
Sebastian Vettel
, nothing could oppose the Frenchman in Q2.
Those two tenths lost against the last Haas speak very poorly of the progression of the A522, also slower than
Valtteri Bottas
' Alfa Romeo .
It is not about the discreet performance of the rear wing, the novelty for this weekend, but something of a larger nature.
Alpine has to do a thorough examination of conscience.
Conforms to The Trust Project criteria
Know more
Fernando Alonso
Carlos Sainz Jr.
Max Verstappen
Red Bull Racing