MONTMELO.- The British George Russellof mercedeswill start on Sunday from the pole position of the Catalan Grand Prix of Formula 1seventh round of the twenty-two of the season, after dominating this Saturday in the qualifying session at the circuit of Montmeló.
Russell, who achieved the tenth pole of his career and the third of the season, surpassed his compatriot in this fight Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), who will start second, and the young Italian Kimi Antonelli (mercedes), outstanding leader of the general classification of the World and great rival to beat at the moment.
Antonelli arrives in Catalonia with a comfortable cushion of 66 and 68 points over Hamilton and Russell, second and third in the general classification, respectively.
“The weekend is going very well so far. I’m still in the fight. I came here with determination and it feels great to get pole position. Tomorrow’s race (Sunday) will be interesting and we’ll have to fight to win,” Russell said.
Antonelli’s “Vendetta”?
It is the first time this season that Antonelli, who was the winner of the last five Grands Prix, will not start the race from the front row of the grid.
“So far, the weekend has been a bit difficult. I didn’t really have a good feeling with the car. The pace in the long runs was strong yesterday (Friday, in free practice), but today I lacked it a little. I’m already looking forward to tomorrow,” said the Italian, eager to take revenge in the race and fight for his sixth consecutive victory.
The veteran Hamilton, 41, hopes to be able to resist on Sunday and fight for his first Grand Prix won by Ferrari, after the progression demonstrated with his second places in the last two races, in Montreal and in Monaco.
“I have no idea if I will be able to keep the pace, we will know that tomorrow. All weekend we were four tenths behind, we thought we were there, but now we are less than a tenth away, which shows the hard work that has been done in the team,” celebrated the English driver.
Norris, on the prowl
The current world champion, also English Lando Norris (McLaren), was fourth in the session after having been the fastest on Friday in the free practice, ahead of the Red Bull from dutch Max Verstappen and from French Isaac Hadjarwho finished only 56 thousandths of a second behind his illustrious teammate.
The Top 10 of the session is completed by the Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren), the New Zealander Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), the German Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) and the Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), who suffered a violent off-track at the start of Q3 (third round of the qualifying session) and was unable to fight for pole position.
In his probable last race in Montmeló, by his own admission on Thursday, the Spaniard Fernando Alonso will start with your Aston Martin from 22nd and last position, behind his Canadian teammate Lance Strollwhich he had surpassed in the last 42 qualifying sessions.
Among Latin Americans, the Brazilian Gabriel Bartoleto (Audi) was the best, with a twelfth place, ahead of the Argentine Franco Colapintothirteenth with his Alpine.
The Mexican Sergio Perezwith cadillaccould only finish nineteenth and will start among the last in Sunday’s race.
