The fact that qualifications play a key role on the Catalunya circuit was true for the old cars, and the new 2022 generation should show that they are designed for easier overtaking.
In all three practice sessions, Charles Leclerc was in the lead, but the results were very close. Pierre Gasly and Mick Schumacher literally did not participate in the third practice session. The AlpfaTauri car has problems with cooling, while Shumi Jr. burnt Haas rear brakes.
His mechanics had to work hard to replace the brakes, rear suspension, gearbox and damaged wires for qualifying.
For this race, Pirelli has traditionally brought the hardest compounds C1, C2 and C3 of it`s range as white, yellow and red tires. In hot weather, tires wear out quickly, a fact that could play a key role in tomorrow's race.
As Pérez crossed the line, Verstappen got a useful tow from his team-mate as he started his first flying lap. But while he set impressive times in the first two sectors he ran slightly wide in Turn 10 and then caught traffic in the final third. Despite the difficulties he took P1.
Sainz Jr. then moved to the top of the order, but he was soon demoted by Leclerc. Russell and Mercedes AMG team-mate Lewis Hamilton then slotted into fourth and fifth respectively ahead of Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas as Pérez dropped to P7.
Pérez’s second attempt was then ruined by a mistake in Turn 7 that saw him go off into the gravel trap, though he managed to get back to the Red Bull garage. And when the final lap times were posted, the Mexican only dropped one place more, with Haas’ Kevin Magnussen jumping to fifth place.
Eliminated after the first segment were 16th-placed Sebastian Vettel in the heavily upgraded Aston Martin, Alpine’s Fernando Alonso, the second Aston of Lance Stroll and the Williams cars of Alex Albon and Nicholas Latifi.
The Mercedes AMG drivers and Leclerc stayed in pit lane for the final runs and that allowed Verstappen to claim top spot. Sainz Jr. took second place while Russell and Hamilton ended up third and fourth ahead of the impressive Magnussen who again claimed fifth.
There was disappointment for McLaren’s Lando Norris. The Briton jumped into the top 10 with this final lap but almost immediately it was deleted for a track limits infringement at Turn 12.
Norris dropped to 11th and that boosted Mick Schumacher into Q3 for the second time this season. Eliminated behind Norris were Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, the AlphaTauri cars of Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly and, in 15th place, Zhou Guanyu.
Pérez took third in the opening runs ahead of Russell and Hamilton with Bottas sixth ahead of Ricciardo, Magnussen and Schumacher.
In the final runs, Leclerc was first out, looking for a clear run and the Ferrari driver made the most of the opportunity, crossing the line ahead of the pack. Whether Verstappen could have beaten his time remains open to question. As soon as the Dutchman began his final flyer he slowed in the middle of Turn 3 and reported a loss of power.
He was told to box, but still in P2 he headed to the grid alongside polesitter Leclerc, the position he will occupy for tomorrow’s race. Third place in Q3 went to Sainz who finished two tenths ahead of Russell.
Pérez is set to start from the front of row three, ahead of Hamilton, while Bottas qualified sixth ahead of Magnussen, Ricciardo and Schumacher.
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