by SIMONE PELUSO
Austrian GP, Qualifying results
| 1st row | 1. Max Verstappen 1:04.314 Red Bull | |
| 2. Lando Norris 1:04.718 McLaren | ||
| 2nd row | 3. George Russell 1:04.840 Mercedes | |
| 4. Carlos Sainz 1:04.851 Ferrari | ||
| 3rd row | 5. Lewis Hamilton 1:04.903 Mercedes | |
| 6. Charles Leclerc 1:05.044 Ferrari | ||
| 4th row | 7. Oscar Piastri 1:05.048 McLaren | |
| 8. Sergio Perez 1:05.202 Red Bull | ||
| 5th row | 9. Nico Hulkenberg 1:05.385 Haas | |
| 10. Esteban Ocon 1:05.883 Alpine | ||
| 6th row | 11. Daniel Ricciardo 1:05.289 RB | |
| 12. Kevin Magnussen 1:05.347 Haas | ||
| 7th row | 13. Pierre Gasly 1:05.359 Alpine | |
| 14. Yuki Tsunoda 1:05.412 RB | ||
| 8th row | 15. Fernando Alonso 1:05.639 Aston Martin | |
| 16. Alexander Albon 1:05.736 Williams | ||
| 9th row | 17. Lance Stroll 1:05.819 Aston Martin | |
| 18. Valtteri Bottas 1:05.847 Kick Sauber | ||
| 10th row | 19. Logan Sargeant 1:05.856 Williams | |
| 20. Guanyu Zhou 1:06.061 Sauber |
Austrian GP, Qualifying Report
Max Verstappen he makes it clear once again that Austria is his home. The Red Bull world champion demolishes the competition and, on a track of just over four kilometers – the second shortest in the World Championship – inflicts a four tenths gap to Lando Norrisincreasingly his direct rival. It will therefore be another duel between the two in the Sunday race, even if Max has shown a clear step forward compared to Friday.
Excellent third position for George Russellwhich once again brings Mercedes into the top 3 in qualifying, making a fool of a handful of thousandths Carlos Sainz’s first Ferrari. The Red one improves in performance compared to the Sprint qualification, thanks also to some interventions right before Q1, although Charles Leclerc this time he fails to capitalize on the last lap launched making a mistake between turns 9 and 10.
And’missed opportunity for the Monegasquewho could have slotted in right between Norris and Russell looking at the previous split times and who instead is behind Lewis Hamilton in the third row. Leclerc will still be in front of Oscar Piastri which, as in Barcelona, fails in Q3 when you see it last lap cancelled (track limits in turn 6) which had virtually projected him into third position.
Only eighth Sergio Perez, a far cry from Verstappen’s times all weekend. In Q3 the Mexican was only behind Nico’s Haas Hulkenberg (which proves to be very efficient on the flying lap) and Esteban’s Alpine Ocon.
The first of those eliminated in Q2 is Daniel Ricciardoeliminated by Ocon by just 15 thousandths. The Australian from RB however left Haas behind him Kevin Magnussen, the Alpine of Pierre Gasly (who had his last time cancelled due to track limits, losing one position), his teammate Yuki Tsunoda and the cousin Aston Martin di Fernando Alonsor. The latter, immediately after the Sprint, admitted to having problems with the power unit that he mounts here in Austria, but that this is his last Grand Prix before he can finally switch to a new unit.
Out in Q1 Alexander Albon by just 80 thousandths compared to Alonso. The Thai preceded Lance Stroll, this time behind his teammate and confirming the difficult period experienced by Aston Martin at this stage of the season. The Saubers of Valtteri Bottas (18th) and Guanyu Zhou are also eliminated again, finishing last behind Logan Sargeant who was unable to confirm his good performance in the Sprint Qualifying.
GP Spain, live Qualifying
You can relive the emotions of Spielberg’s Qualifying with our live commentary.
The program
F1 returns to the track tomorrow for the eleventh Grand Prix of the year: it will start as usual at 3pm, and it will once again be a Verstappen-Norris battle, with Ferrari and Mercedes trying to get involved.
