A wet track for the launch of qualifying, but it’s not raining and the sun is shining. Air temperature is 19 degrees, the track is at 25.
Q1. Carlos and Charles take to the track on Intermediate tyres and put in the stages. The Spaniard kicks off with a 2 ’ 00 ” 536, while his platoon- mate does a 2 ’ 01 ” 551. They also ameliorate to 1 ’ 59 ” 844 and 2 ’ 00 ” 692 independently and come in for a new set of interceders with which Charles posts the fastest time of 1 ’ 58 ” 300 and Carlos is fourth in 1 ’ 58 ” 688, so they both go through to Q2.
Q2. All the buses go out on used Intermediate tyres. Leclerc laps in 1 ’ 56 ” 244, Sainz in 1 ’ 57 ” 810, before bending for Soft copters. On these Carlos stages in 1 ’ 54 ” 689 and also 1 ’ 51 ” 711, Charles does a 1 ’ 52 ” 017. They’re through to Q3.
Q3. On Softs, Charles sets a time of 1 ’ 47 ” 931, Carlos is third in 1 ’ 48 ” 352. The SF-23 s hole for a new set of Softs. Leclerc does a 1 ’ 46 ” 988, second quickest, while Carlos is fifth in 1 ’ 47 ” 152. Max Verstappen is quickest but the Dutchman will start from sixth on the grid, with a penalty for changing his gearbox. Charles thus starts from pole for the 20th time in his career, while Carlos will line up fourth.
