Max Verstappen Heavy Favourite In Melbourne As Red Bull Drama Rumbles On

20.03.2024 - 04:43 sports.ndtv.com

Max Verstappen will be heavy favourite to make it three wins from three this season as his Red Bull team attempt to put weeks of paddock intrigue behind them at the Australian Grand Prix.

The Dutch three-time world champion emphatically led home teammate Sergio Perez in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, but the celebrations were overshadowed by team disunity and allegations against Christian Horner.

The long-serving Red Bull boss was cleared of inappropriate conduct involving a woman colleague ahead of the season-opener in Sakhir and tried to put a lid on the drama in Jeddah.

But the unnamed woman has appealed to Red Bull GmbH, the parent company of the all-conquering Formula One team. She has also reportedly lodged an official complaint to Formula One's governing body the FIA, ensuring the saga will rumble on in Melbourne this weekend.

red bull Ferrari Mercedes as Max Verstappen Lewis Hamilton Christian Horner Toto Wolff Sergio Perez Helmut Marko Albert Park Netherlands Australia Saudi Arabia Bahrain

Triple world champion Max Verstappen romped to victory at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, leading team-mate Sergio Perez to a dominant one-two finish for Red Bull. Verstappen failed to finish in Australia a fortnight ago but he was in control for the entire race at Suzuka after starting from pole and claimed his third win from four grands prix this season. The Dutchman finished 12.535sec ahead of the Mexican Perez, who came home in front of Ferrari's Carlos Sainz in dry, sunny conditions. Verstappen said "the critical bit was the start, to stay ahead".

Max Verstappen Grabs Pole In Japan For Red Bull One-Two

Triple world champion Max Verstappen said his performance "wasn't ideal" but still good enough to grab pole position for Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix ahead of Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez. Verstappen, who failed to finish the race in Australia a fortnight ago, clocked a fastest lap of 1min 28.197sec in qualifying at Suzuka -- just 0.066sec ahead of the Mexican for a Red Bull one-two. It was the fourth time the Dutchman has claimed pole in as many races this season.

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Max Verstappen secures pole position in Melbourne

Max Verstappen is on course to take a record-equalling 10 consecutive victories after putting his Red Bull on pole position for the Australian Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen On Pole Ahead Of Carlos Sainz At Australian Grand Prix

Dominant three-time world champion Max Verstappen clinched a third straight pole of the season on Saturday at the Australian Grand Prix as the flying Dutchman targets a record 10th consecutive win. In overcast conditions at Melbourne's Albert Park, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, back in the car barely two weeks after appendicitis surgery, came second in tense qualifying and will keep the Red Bull ace company on the front row.