AUSTRIAN GP – Max Verstappen beats Lando Norris to sprint pole by just under a tenth
Max Verstappen has beaten Lando Norris by just under a tenth to take pole for the sprint at the Austrian Grand Prix. The Dutchman set a 04.686 to take pole and put him ahead of both McLarens for the sprint, with Oscar Piastri two-tenths behind Verstappen and behind his team by just over a tenth.
Verstappen set his fastest time right at the end in what became an all or nothing end to SQ3 with the vast majority of the drivers deciding to go for just a single lap. Through the Sprint Qualifying Verstappen may have topped all three segments, but once again he was pushed by Norris throughout.
The Red Bull driver was one of the first out in those decisive final moments and that put him fastest once again ahead of Norris. That was despite him being unhappy on the tyres in another chaotic qualifying at the Red Bull Ring. Norris produced the fastest time in the middle sector to nip ahead on a 04.779, but Verstappen’s leading pace in the first and final sectors made the difference as he came through to top the session with a 04.686.
The fight for pole almost a resumption of the closing laps four days ago between two of the best drivers at this circuit. Verstappen bounced back despite a issue in the only practice session, briefly causing a red flag and stopping on the pit straight after a sensor issue struck his RB20 – and has quickly appeared in the groove around a short, but challenging circuit on which he has won a record four times.
Perhaps at the halfway stage of the season, the fight could be between Red Bull and McLaren. But Mercedes may have lost time suggested Russell who believed that he lost time because of a quicker-than-ideal out lap as the SQ3 runners rushed to start their final attempts before the flag dropped.
Verstappen said, “It’s really been nice to drive the car. It was well balanced and then you make some little adjustments going into Sprint Qualifying and everything has been working really well. It’s a good start to the weekend, there are still a lot of things to do, but I’m happy with today.”
Norris, who had been only seventh-quickest in SQ2, said: “I never got quite comfortable probably until my final lap, so I’m happy with that. It’s close as it has been for the whole year, so no difference, but that must have been a nice lap by Max and it’s a good position for the race.”
Piastri went nearly seven hundredths faster than George Russell, with Carlos Sainz splitting the Mercedes going seven hundredths behind Russell and ahead of Lewis Hamilton by the same margin. Meanwhile, Sainz’s teammate Charles Leclerc left it too late to start a flying lap before the clock ran out in SQ3, meaning he will start the sprint from tenth.
Russell said, “I was probably surprised at the gap, probably over-egged it on my out lap and took too much life out of the tyres and probably took that peak grip out of it. That’s the only explanation I’ve got because the lap felt strong, probably the best lap of the session. It was quite a step backwards. P4 is still a great place to be for the fight [on Saturday].”
While less than a tenth again covered the lead Red Bull and McLaren cars, Mercedes finished up three tenths back although Russell felt that gap may have been exacerbated by a quicker-than-ideal out lap as the SQ3 runners rushed to start their final attempts before the flag dropped.
It wasn’t however plain sailing for Leclerc’s incoming teammate Hamilton, the seven-time champion put himself at risk of being knocked out in SQ1 after his fastest time was deleted for track limits. The seven time champion “pretty disastrous” session saw him just avoid elimination.
Sergio Perez was seventh over a second off teammate Verstappen and seven tenths behind Hamilton, the Mexican going just under a tenth faster than the two Alpines with Esteban Ocon half a second ahead of teammate Pierre Gasly. Leclerc unable to take part in the top ten shoot-out after a technical issue and that left him tenth.
June has been a positive month for Alpine following a difficult start and controversy over the re-appointment of controversial former team principal Flabio Briatore last weekend, that has seen a bit of momentum behind them.
Kevin Magnussen was fastest of those knocked out in SQ2, the Haas driver missing out by half a tenth as he went four hundredths faster than Lance Stroll. For the second time in six days, both Aston Martin’s failed to get into a Q3/SQ3 session with Stroll going three hundredths faster than teammate Fernando Alonso.
Yuki Tsunoda put his RB fourteenth just over eight hundredths behind the Spaniard while Logan Sargeant failed to set a time. Tsunoda had knocked out his RB teammate Daniel Ricciardo after going nearly a quarter of a tenth faster in SQ1 as the under-pressure Australian was just two thousandths faster than Nico Hulkenberg.
Alex Albon spilt the Sauber’s the British-Thai driver three hundredths behind Valtteri Bottas and nearly half a second faster than Guanyu Zhou.