Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing stunned the Australian Grand Prix Qualifying by grabbing pole position ahead of the Mercedes F1 duo, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Perez, crashed out in Q1, leaving the reigning world champion as the clear favorite for the pole. However, the challenging weather conditions and an unexpected Mercedes surge made the session all the more interesting.

Hamilton was able to match Verstappen’s pace in the first set of runs in Q3, coming in just nine-thousandths of a second behind the Dutchman. However, Verstappen was able to pull out a significant 0.2s lead in the final moments of the session, delivering a 1:16.732 lap time to clinch pole position.

Russell was able to pull off a surprise maneuver by taking the second spot on the grid, edging out Hamilton by a further tenth of a second. This marks the third time this season that he has out-qualified his seven-time world champion teammate, proving his worth as a rising star in the sport.

The cool and windy conditions at Albert Park proved to be a challenge for all drivers, but Verstappen was able to maintain his composure and deliver an exceptional performance to grab pole position. It remains to be seen how the race will unfold, but with Verstappen, Russell, and Hamilton starting at the front of the grid, it promises to be an exciting battle this Sunday.

Mercedes could look to adopt a different tire strategy compared to its rivals. With the cool and windy conditions at Albert Park, tire management will certainly play a crucial role in the outcome of the race.

Furthermore, Mercedes can use teamwork to its advantage. If Hamilton and Russell can work together during the Australian GP, they can challenge Verstappen for the win. This would require Hamilton to play a supportive role to his younger teammate, or vice versa, to ultimately overtake Verstappen when the opportunity arises and keep him at bay until the checkered flag.