Kevin Magnussen on Haas will start in front of everyone in the sprint race of the Brazilian Grand Prix. Strategic mistake at Ferrari.
He certainly did not expect to win his first pole position in his career in this way Kevin Magnussen. The Danish Haas driver set the fastest time in Friday’s qualifying session 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix of Formula One. He will be the one to start in front of everyone in tomorrow’s sprint race, ahead of the usual Max Verstappen it’s at George Russell.
Disappointment at Ferrari: Sainz it is 5th, only 10th instead LeClerc, victim of a strategic error by the wall, which tried to send him to the track with intermediate tires too early for the arrival of the rain. The Monegasque made himself heard on the radio expressing all his anger.
The rest of the top ten, in a session dominated by uncertain weather, see Norris in fourth position, the two Alpines of Or with And Alonso in sixth and seventh position, Hamilton eighth and Perez ninth.
F1, GP Brazil 2022: how the qualifying went
A pouring rain anticipated the start of the Q1with a lot of headwind that made things difficult for the riders, who took to the track with the intermediates.
Ten minutes from the end it was Alonso to set the best time, ahead of Verstappen and Perez on Red Bull. The rapid improvement in track conditions changed everything again, creating tension in the final minutes of the session.
We then move on to soft tires, which initially upset the ranking a bit but in the end return a predictable result with Latifi, Zhou, Bottas, Tsunoda and Schumacher among the first eliminated. The fastest was Norris ahead of Hamilton and Alonso.
Dry conditions instead in the Q2, albeit with threatening clouds that would have conditioned the outcome of Q3. The best time was recorded Max Verstappen ahead of only 9 thousandths of Carlos Sainz and of 60 tenths of LeClerc. Eliminated instead Albon, Gasly, Vettel, Ricciardo and Stroll.
Very hot the Q3. The approach of the rain he pushed all the riders to exit well in advance of the start of the session. To get the best possible time before the water arrives, they all chose a soft rubber: different solution only for Leclercwho immediately tried the intermediates, but found himself in a difficult and undriveable situation.
However, the Monegasque tried the tour with great difficulty, before deciding to return. Perez, who was on the red tires, found himself behind him in spite of himself, slowed down by the difficulties of the Ferrari driver.
In the meantime, all the other riders have completed their only lap on soft rubber, as the rain has finally arrived. In a mix of perfect timing and skill it was Kevin Magnussen to sign the best time, with Verstappen and Russell behind him.
Just the young Mercedes driver was the protagonist of an off-piste that caused the Red flag and the stop to time. This “allowed” the rain to arrive on the track and made the resumption of the session useless: only Hamilton and Perez tried an intermediate lap, too slow to worry about the times set in semi-dry conditions.
First pole position therefore for Magnussen and the Haasmotorized Ferrari and with frame Dallara, which therefore also brings up a bit of Italian pride. However, it will be only the Sprint Race tomorrow that will determine the starting grid on Sunday evening: the Dane will try to resist as long as possible.
