Max Verstappen secured pole position in qualifying at the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, meaning he’ll line up P1 for Saturday’s Sprint. And while it was a relatively straightforward session for the Dutchman, for Mercedes it was anything but.
Verstappen pipped Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc to P1 by just 0.029s, with Carlos Sainz in third only 0.082s away from the Dutchman, as Sergio Perez took fourth.
READ MORE: Verstappen beats Ferraris to pole in Austria as both Mercedes crash out of Q3
George Russell was P5 for Mercedes. But the Briton didn’t see the chequered flag, after both he and team mate Lewis Hamilton crashed out of Q3 – with Hamilton taking an eventual P10 for the Sprint.
Watch how the qualifying drama unfolded at the Red Bull Ring in the video above.
Next Up
Related Articles
ExclusiveFornaroli on testing for McLaren and pushing for a race seat.webp)
How Williams' 2026 season has played out so far
The story behind these 12 striking images from the 2026 season
The hidden team of experts behind every F1 star.webp)
ExclusiveWhy switching off is one of the most vital skills for F1 drivers 
Unlocked10 quiz questions on F1 at the Sepang International Circuit