Since the last race, more news has rocked the paddock: Adrian Newey is leaving Red Bull. Would he even be at the race? Would he be giving interviews if he was? He was and he spoke to Brundle; letting the world know that he would be off spending time with the family and travelling, like a disgraced politician.
There were lots of new liveries to get to grips with as well.
It's a shorter format for the Spring Qualifying and not much of a chance to redeem a poor lap. In the first session, Williams were out in the bottom with Albon's lap being deleted as he careered off the track and went outside track limits, which meant that his team mate and home track hero, Sargeant, was not plum last. Both Saubers and Gasly also went out. The McLarens took the first two top spots in the timings.
Several drivers hit the wall; Alonso nearly did, Ricciardo did but with no ill-effects and Hamilton too, putting him out of Qualifying. Russell was 11th, then Hamilton, Ocon, Magnussen and Tsunoda.
Red Bull appeared to have turned up the engines for their final run in the third session and dominated in the end. Verstappen took pole, then LeClerc, Perez and a stunning 4th from Ricciardo. Next came Sainz, Piastri (who had been second all the way to his team mate), Stroll out-qualified Alonso, Norris (who had first spot until the last push) and Hulkenberg (who had briefly held pole!).
Verstappen felt that he put in a poor shift and someone else should have shown up and taken it. He took the Etch-a-Sketch trophy and we were left to look forward to the Sprint.
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