Eighth pole of the season and fortieth in his career for the usual Max Verstappen, who after the best time and success in the Sprint Race, also beats everyone in the qualifying session of the Austrian Grand Prix.
The world champion’s Red Bull will therefore start first once again on its home track, flanked once again on the front row by Lando Norris’ McLaren (as in the Sprint). Third fastest for George Russell’s Mercedes followed by Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari, while on the third row is the other Mercedes-Ferrari duo with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, future teammates in red.
This is the starting grid for the Austrian Grand Prix:
1 Verstappen, 2 Norris, 3 Russell, 4 Sainz, 5 Hamilton, 6 Leclerc, 7 Perez, 8 Piastri, 9 Hulkenberg, 10 Ocon, 11 Ricciardo, 12 Magnussen, 13 Gasly, 14 Tsunoda, 15 Albonso, 16 Stroll , 18 Bottas, 19 Sargeant, 20 Zhou
A Verstappen la Sprint Race
Max Verstappen wins the Sprint Race of the Austrian Grand Prix, the home one for the Red Bull team. The Dutchman dominates as usual, demonstrating his strength even during the attempts to attack and pressure by the two McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. The Australian finishes second, his British teammate crosses the finish line in third. Fifth and seventh place for the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, preceded by the Mercedes of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton respectively. Verstappen starts well and defends first position without problems, dragging behind the McLarens of Norris and Piastri. The Briton is very aggressive and during the fifth lap he attacks his Dutch rival, taking away the lead by a few metres, which the world champion regains a couple of corners later with a phenomenal counterattack. In all of this the Australian takes advantage of this and jumps into second position to the detriment of his teammate. Further behind, Sainz’s Ferrari was overtaken by Russell’s Mercedes, after the Spaniard managed to surprise him with a great overtaking at the start. Leclerc’s other Red, however, remains stable in seventh position after the three places gained during the first lap (the Monegasque started tenth). At the end little or nothing happens, Norris approaches Piastri to try to give him back the overtaking but before the finish line the positions no longer change.