Australian F1 Qualifying Shocks Fans As Underdog Takes Pole

Australian F1 Qualifying Shocks Fans As Underdog Takes Pole...

American Formula 1 fans woke up to a major surprise Saturday as Alpine’s Pierre Gasly secured pole position for the Australian Grand Prix, beating out favorites Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc. The shock result marks Gasly’s first pole since 2021 and sets up a dramatic race Sunday (Saturday night US time) on ESPN.

The qualifying session, which concluded early Saturday morning Eastern Time, saw Gasly deliver a blistering 1:16.732 lap at Melbourne’s Albert Park Circuit. Reigning champion Verstappen will start second after complaining of balance issues in his Red Bull, while Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz rounded out the top three.

This marks the first time since 2013 that neither a Red Bull nor Mercedes driver will start from pole in Australia. The unexpected result is trending among US sports fans, many of whom stayed up late or woke early to watch the live session ahead of Sunday’s primetime race broadcast.

Social media erupted with reactions, particularly from American fans who support Gasly after his underdog victory at Monza in 2020. ESPN’s F1 viewership has grown 28% year-over-year in the US, with the Australian GP traditionally drawing strong numbers due to its weekend time slot.

Weather could play a factor in Sunday’s race, with forecasts showing a 40% chance of rain during the local afternoon. A wet track would further shake up the grid, potentially benefiting drivers like McLaren’s Lando Norris who qualified fifth.

The last-minute drama comes amid heightened US interest in F1, fueled by Netflix’s Drive to Survive and the upcoming Miami Grand Prix in May. Alpine’s surprise performance has also boosted attention on their American-backed team, which counts Otro Capital and RedBird Capital Partners as investors.

Coverage begins Sunday at 12:30 AM ET on ESPN2, with the race starting at 1:00 AM ET. For West Coast viewers, the session will air live at 10:30 PM PT Saturday night.