The heat was on at the Red Bull Ring as Max Verstappen snatched pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix, showcasing why he’s the reigning World Champion.
Max Verstappen set the pace early in the Qualifying 1 (Q1) session, delighting his devoted ‘Orange Army’ with a fast 1:06.054. However, the competition was fierce as George Russell momentarily took the lead with a 1:05.614. Carlos Sainz eventually toppled Verstappen, but it was the Red Bull driver who regained the top spot, proving his mettle once more. Meanwhile, McLaren’s Lando Norris was instructed to head out again after initially placing in fourth. The intensity of the session was underscored by the fact that the top 15 drivers were separated by just 0.798 seconds, marking the closest Q1 in Formula 1 history.
As drivers pushed their limits in Q2, Charles Leclerc initially led, only to be surpassed by Verstappen’s impressive 1:04.577. Others like Russell and Sainz couldn’t match Verstappen’s pace and trailed by over four-tenths. Fernando Alonso faced difficulties, narrowly avoiding a crash and eventually ending the session as the slowest among the 15. The session also witnessed Nico Hulkenberg under scrutiny for interfering with other drivers, including Albon and Perez.
A delay in Q3 was caused by gravel on the track, as officials hurried to clear the debris. Lewis Hamilton had a noteworthy moment, snagging a piece of equipment on his way out. He placed sixth after his initial run, trailing behind Verstappen, who clocked a blistering 1:04.426. Verstappen improved his time further to 1:04.314, solidifying his pole advantage by 0.404 seconds ahead of Norris. What could have been a McLaren feat of securing second and third was altered when Oscar Piastri exceeded track limits. This allowed Russell to claim third, followed by Sainz and Hamilton. Leclerc had his own dramatic moment with an off-track excursion on his final flying lap.
Max Verstappen’s pole position for the Austrian GP is a testament to his prowess and the exceptional performance of the Red Bull team on their home turf. The qualifying rounds were marked by close competition and intense pressure, setting the stage for an exciting race day.
