Max Verstappen, pole and big blow to McLaren in Austria; Sainz, on his way to the podium

“We still have Verstappen”, said Helmut Marko, Red Bull advisor, when asked by ‘DAZN’ about the possibility of McLaren having a better car than energy drinks now or in the future. That answer says it all. Max is making a difference now. And the Dutchman is in charge of turning those words into actions, again, this Saturday in the Austrian F1 GP classification with a stratospheric pole.

It doesn’t matter that the orange car can be consistent with Red Bull. There is only one Max and week after week, without fail, he always performs at his peak, at a different level, and He is the only one capable of putting the Red Bull to the wire to make it the fastest car. Max took pole in Austria and thus put the cherry on top of a perfect day which started with victory in the sprint race against the two McLarens, who were upset.

Verstappen was given no option and Sainz was 4th

In qualifying, Max had no choice. In his first attempt at Q3 he put at least 3 tenths on Norris, half a second on Russell, 6 tenths on Leclerc and 1 second on ‘Checo’ Pérez. Brutal. And with 1’04″426 in his pocket, he went out for a second attempt, knowing that it would be very difficult for anyone to beat him. And so it was. Max even allowed himself the luxury of improving his time and took pole by 0.404 over Norris, putting at least 0.888 over his teammate Pérez, who was 8th.

Oscar Piastri managed to finish third, but his lap was disallowed for exceeding track limits and he would start 7th, weakening McLaren against Max for another mistake to add to those in orange. So it is very difficult to beat the champion. From challenging the Dutch with two cars, to doing it in just one. As a result, Russell moved up to third position (at 0.526) and Sainz, in fourth place at 0.537, dreaming of a podium in a weekend where Ferrari expected more from its car but found itself again a few steps behind back.

Starting 4th, Sainz knew that Piastri (7th) had more speed and should come. But he will fight for itaware that with Mercedes he had the option to fight, as was clear in the sprint race, where he did not hamilton despite the brake problems. Carlos will start first Ferrari after an error Leclercwho could only be 6th when he left the track in his last attempt.

Norris, faced with an enormous challenge: Can he handle Max?

In Imola, Canada and Barcelona He won without the best car, inflating himself in front of many gifts from his rivals as he did everything flawlessly. And history repeats itself at home red bull behind the wheel of a vehicle that is only in the hands of Max Like a rocket. On Friday he signed the pole in the sprint, on Saturday morning he was excellent against the attack of Landau in the short race and flew to victory despite the better speed of those in orange. And in the afternoon he won another lap. The best thing remains for him: to win the race.

In the sprint event it is clear that the McLaren they can put things in Maxbut to do this they must work as a team, without Norris and Piastri bother, focusing only on the complex goal of hunting a champion who, like the bad guy in the movies, always lives. SA Max, to beat him you have to finish, leave him on the canvas. If not, he always has a tie to win again by KO

McLaren knew this, especially Norris, who showed better speed than Piastri in the sprint race.. To win, Lando has to do everything perfectly and hope his team does too. In Austria, at race speed, the question is between Verstappen and McLaren, because Mercedes and Ferrari seem to be a step behind after the silver arrows were on that ointment in the previous appointments. This time, Norris, who already failed at the start of Barcelona and this Saturday failed against Max, will have his eleventh chance. In front, a Max who turns into a giant in his hands.

Alonso, far, was eliminated in Q2

Fernando Alonso, with an Aston Martin that needs to improve a lot, that is not adapting well in Austria, and moreover, with an engine in its final stages, in the last kilometers of its useful life , he failed to enter Q3 and was eliminated in Q2 in the final position of that session, in 15th place, far from the cut-off time set by Ocon’s Alpine. The Asturian is 1.170 behind the best time in Q2 behind Tsunoda (14th), Gasly (13th), Magnussen (12th) and Ricciardo (11th), more than 3 tenths behind Q3 From 15th position The driver from Oviedo will start the Austrian GP. He has already warned that it will be a difficult weekend, away from the points.

This Sunday he will struggle in the hope of adding points and he will have to gape again, as he also hopes will happen at the next Silverstone race. This is what he must do before the long-awaited new package of evolutions, for which he and Aston Martin have high hopes and which should arrive in Hungary. There, Alonso hopes “a new championship will begin” for them. The beginning of a better path. Until then, it’s time to suffer.