Max Verstappen dominates qualifying at the Austrian Grand Prix and will start on pole position in the sprint race

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The Red Bull driver was the fastest on Friday and took his third pole position of the season.

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Max Verstappen hits first at the Austrian Grand Prix. The Dutchman set the fastest time in a hectic qualifying session on Friday July 8 at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. As at Imola, he will start from first place on the grid for the sprint race on Saturday.

The reigning world champion, who has already dominated the morning free practice session, navigated between race interruptions to shine on his team’s track, in front of several thousand supporters committed to his cause. Second best time, Charles Leclerc will start alongside him on the front row, and ahead of his teammate Carlos Sainz, recent winner at Silverstone.

The disappointment of the day is for Mercedes. In the rhythm to aim for the first positions, Lewis Hamilton then George Russell hit the wall on attacking laps, causing two red flags in quick succession in Q3. The two drivers will start 10th and 5th respectively.

Side tricolor, the fortunes are diverse. Esteban Ocon finished in a very good 6th place, two places ahead of Fernando Alonso, the other Alpine driver. Qualifying was more difficult for Pierre Gasly, who missed Q3 by 9 thousandths. The Habs, who will start 11th, could have benefited from a downgrading of Sergio Pérez for non-compliance with track limits, on which the race marshals have not yet decided.

The sprint race is a special feature that only takes place during three Grands Prix (Imola, Austria and Brazil). The classification of this event then determines the starting grid for the “classic” race on Sunday.


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