P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen has revealed that minor changes to his car prior to Q3 enabled him to take an “unexpected” pole
Red Bull appeared on the back foot against Ferrari at Albert Park despite dominating the first two races of the season. Verstappen, not topping any session until the pole position shootout, produced two stunning laps to claim pole position. The subtle tweaks made to his RB20 ahead of Q3 helped Verstappen secure his third consecutive F1 pole position. Red Bull struggled to find a good balance in the car throughout the weekend, with Verstappen making adjustments to improve performance. Verstappen believes Ferrari has closed the gap on Red Bull at this circuit, making the race challenging with the softer compounds. Despite disruptions, Verstappen feels prepared for the race but acknowledges the strong race pace shown by Ferrari in practice.