Spicy Provisional Starting Grid: All eyes on potential Russell-Verstappen fireworks

In the final moments of qualifying it seemed as though Max Verstappen would take pole position ahead of title rival Oscar Piastri. However, a blistering lap by George Russell pipped the Dutchman's relegating him to P2.

After qualifying the Mercedes driver joked about being able to risk more than the Red Bull Racing driver on account of his lack of penalty points compared to the Dutchman, who reacted fiercely during a media session when asked if the menacing race ban would play a role in how he went about racing for Sunday's race.

In P3 lines up Oscar Piastri with Andrea Kimi Antonelli by his side, as Lewis Hamilton starts P5 ahead of rival Fernando Alonso in P6. P7 goes for Lando Norris who fell to his teammate by a whopping half a second margin, but was still good enough to beat a furious Charles Leclerc who could only manage P8.

Having received a 3-place grid drop, Isack Hadjar will move down from P9 to a P12 start, promoting Alexander Albon to P9 and Franco Colapinto to P10.