Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands reacts after taking pole position during the qualifying session for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Barbour) Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands reacts after taking pole position during the qualifying session for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, March 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Barbour) 
Max Verstappen is on course to take a record-equalling 10 consecutive victories after putting his Red Bull on pole position for the Australian Grand Prix.
Verstappen’s third pole in as many races appeared under threat with Ferrari threatening to knock the all-conquering Dutchman off his perch.
But Verstappen upped the ante in front of a record Saturday crowd at Melbourne’s Albert Park of just shy of 131,000, to see off Carlos Sainz, who missed the last round in Saudi Arabia with appendicitis, by 0.270 seconds.
MAX TAKES POLE IN MELBOURNE!!! 🤩🇦🇺 Carlos Sainz joins Verstappen on the front row. Sergio Perez will start Sunday's race from third 👏👏#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/9GAYh3jv2U
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 23, 2024Lewis Hamilton holds a record eight pole positions here, but the British driver was eliminated in Q2, leaving him a disappointing 11th on the grid – his lowest starting position in Melbourne for 14 years.
Hamilton failed to progress to Q3 after he finished 0.059 seconds behind George Russell in the other Mercedes.
Russell, who will start seventh, holds a 3-0 qualifying lead over Hamilton who will leave the Silver Arrows at the end of the season to join Ferrari.
Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez qualified thirdphlove, ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who aborted his last lap after he made a mistake.