Championship leader Max Verstappen will start from pole position, after a sensational final lap at the end of qualifying in France; team-mate Sergio Pérez lines up fourth.
Red Bull Racing’s Verstappen has looked the class of the field all weekend so far, taking pole by just over 0.2 seconds from championship rival Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen says that he wasn’t actually expecting to get pole position, as the Circuit Paul Ricard is one that in the past hasn’t suited the Red Bulls.
Nevertheless it is Verstappen who will be at the front of the field as the lights go out tomorrow, with the Dutchman expecting a battle with Hamilton on Sunday.
“To be able to put it on pole here, on a track that has not been our favourite in terms of performance, is very promising and a big boost for the Team. We really did not expect it so I am of course very happy. Everything has been working really well all weekend and from today even compared to yesterday we made a good improvement through hard work and maximising set-up.
“I was confident after FP3 but you never really know where you are or what everyone else will bring in Qualifying, so we should be very happy with this performance so far. There is a long run to Turn 1 so we have to get a good start tomorrow and for sure they will be very close but our long run pace in FP2 looked good so I expect another tight battle.”