After an exhilarating sprint shootout, Max Verstappen will start from pole position in the sprint race in Austria on Saturday. McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished second and third respectively in the sprint qualification at the Red Bull Ring on Friday.
The Spielberg circuit is the setting for the third sprint race weekend of the season. Earlier this year, the drivers had already experienced this format in China and Miami. On both occasions, Verstappen won the race. However, he was only the fastest in the qualification in the American city (Lando Norris was the fastest in China). Despite all the problems with the RB20 in recent weeks, Verstappen was again a prominent candidate for pole in Austria.
With sessions of 12, 10, and 8 minutes, the time in a sprint shootout is more limited than in a regular qualification. With most cars once on the track in Spielberg, it’s a busy scene. There are no major surprises, unless Logan Sargeant finally outperforms Alex Albon in the Williams. The fastest time, for what it’s worth, is already in the opening session in the name of Verstappen.
Fierce Slide
Yuki Tsunoda can consider himself lucky to continue after a fierce slide, the Japanese survives as number 15 the first cut. He doesn’t manage to do that again, also for among others Sargeant and the heavily disappointing Aston Martin drivers, it’s over after SQ2. Verstappen is again a few tenths of a second faster than the rest and nothing seems to stand in the way of a pole for the Dutchman.
Because everyone only does one run due to the limited time available, it’s again a busy scene on the track. An exciting battle unfolds, Verstappen turns out to be the fastest man on the field as expected. A tenth separates him from the rest of the field, Norris is the man who accompanies him on the first starting row. Oscar Piastri follows his McLaren teammate in third place.
There are no guarantees, but unlike many recent weekends, the RB20 is doing fine in Austria so far. Verstappen can start his journey towards the third sprint victory of the year from 12.00 UST on Saturday.
Results
Find out everything about the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix here.
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