Disappointing for Ferrari also

It is fourth and fifth for Ferrari who were quickest during the two practice sessions on Friday.

They just didn’t have enough in them to keep up with the flying Dutchman Verstappen or the McLarens.

A win on home soil would take a massive effort for the Ferrari team.

22:06

Piastri is still under investigation

Just a reminder that Oscar Piastri is still under investigation for appearing to impede Kevin Magnussen during the first part of qualifying.

What a shame it would be for the Australian if he loses out on that second place.

If he is penalised then generally that would mean he drops three places which would relegate him behind Lando Norris and the two Ferrari drivers.

Elsewhere, a disappointing day for Mercedes in 6th and 8th, with Lewis Hamilton again having a lot of work to do from the fourth row.

22:04

Starting grid

Max Verstappen
Oscar Piastri
Lando Norris

Charles Leclerc
Carlos Sainz
George Russell
Yuki Tsunoda
Lewis Hamilton
Daniel Ricciardo
Nico Hulkenberg

22:01

Verstappen improves his time and goes POLE!

Verstappen improves and so does Norris who is 0.091 off the pace!

And Piastri improves to go second! Only 0.074 off Verstappen who takes his eighth straight pole position.

Verstappen is on POLE!

22:00

No improvement for Ferrari but Verstappen is flying

Or is it? Leclerc is purple in the middle sector!

Sainz crosses the line he is fifth. Leclerc loses time in the final sector and stays third.

Max Verstappen is finding time as the two McLarens are also down on time!

21:59

It’s not working for Ferrari!

First man to set a second flyer in Q3 is Carlos Sainz but he is well down on the first sector!

Leclerc is also down in the first sector it’s not working for Ferrari who were so quick on Friday.

21:56

Top 10 with four minutes to go

Verstappen
Norris
Leclerc
Piastri
Sainz
Russell
Tsunoda
Hamilton
Hulkenberg
Ricciardo

21:54

Mercedes off the pace but on used tyres

George Russell is sixth and Lewis Hamilton eighth – with the latter a whole second slower than Verstappen.

Everyone will come into the pits now and prepare themselves for their last-gasp laps in qualifying.

Can Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz do anything about that time by Verstappen?

That first sector time of Verstappen has given him the advantage over Norris and Piastri who were rapid in the last two sectors.

21:52

Verstappen goes quickest!

The big contenders are all out on brand new soft tyres and Max Verstappen is flying.

The Dutchman is the first of the big contenders to set a time with a 1:14.8!

Lando Norris is quicker in the final two sectors and is less than a tenth behind!

Oscar Piastri matched Norris in the first sector but is three tenths down in the second.

Yuki Tsunoda goes third, before Piastri sets the quickest third sector to behind his team-mate.

Next are the Ferrari pair with Carlos Sainz fourth and Charles Leclerc then splitting the two McLaren’s for third.

21:49

Q3 is underway

The green light is back on and the drivers are returning to the track for the final stage of qualifying.

21:48

Perez: ‘What a mess’

Safe to say the Mexican is not happy. 11th is not great especially on a circuit which is notoriously difficult to overtake on. Safe to say it’s a big task in hand for him and Alonso down in 20th.

21:46

The drivers fighting it out for pole

Max Verstappen
Charles Leclerc
Yuki Tsunoda
Lando Norris
Oscar Piastri
Carlos Sainz
Nico Hulkenberg
Lewis Hamilton
George Russell
Daniel Ricciardo

21:44

Big disappointment for Perez

It has been a shocker of a day for Sergio Perez and muchlike he did on several occasions last season, he is out of Q2 when his team-mate Max Verstappen is top.

Big shoutout to Yuki Tsunoda who was an impressive third in that session behind Verstappen and Leclerc.

The Red Bull hasn’t looked quick during practice, but Verstappen could be tough to beat in this upcoming final session.