In the first session his team mate, Tsunoda, could not stay on the track and had his lap time deleted twice but was ultimately able to get through in 9th, with his kind-of rookie team mate in 3rd. Out went Albon, Colapinto, Bottas, Hamilton and Zhou. Williams did not seem able to get some pace back at this track and are travelling backwards down the championship. Still at least they were ahead of the multiple world champion.
With Lawson pretty much out of the running, RB played the team game and had him tow Tsunoda twice; to no success they were both out in the second session, book-ending the five drivers out. In between was Hulkenberg, Ocon and Stroll.
In the final session, track limits came into play again. Perez struggled. Gasly also pretty much ran into Verstappen in the pit lane for a particularly unsafe release. With just over a minute to go most drivers were out for a final flying lap, Norris holding pole from the first attempts. It was all in vain as Russell spun off the track and into the safety barrier, the impact triggered the release of the medical car. The double waved Yellow Flags meant that no one could put in a quicker lap legally. One Brit gifted another pole.
Verstappen's best lap was only good for 2nd, then Sainz and LeClerc, Piastri, Russell, Gasly, Alonso, Magnussen and Perez last with no time set. Russell had his hand to his helmet, which he kept on, as he got swiftly into the car without waving to the crowd.
Vestappen seemed very happy with his front row position, positively beaming. Sainz also believed he would be in the fight for the win. Smiliest of them all was Norris.
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