Austrian Grand Prix – Qualifications: Verstappen shines, Mercedes sees red

After a wet morning, the Austrian sun takes over to welcome the qualifying session for the sprint race.

With 19°C in the air and 38°C on the track, the conditions are ideal for pushing the F1 cars to their limits.

Driven by the “Orange Army” (with an estimated presence of 80,000 Dutch spectators), Max Verstappen achieved the fastest time in FP1 with a lap of 1:06.302 and is determined to come out on top in this qualifying session.

Q1: Ferrari takes the lead; and another disappointment for Ricciardo.

First reference set by Charles Leclerc in 1:06.200, and improves the fastest time of FP1 on his first flying lap. Quickly, the Red Bulls take over, with Verstappen improving but having his time cancelled for track limits violation.

The best provisional time therefore comes from Perez. Alonso is driving his Alpine in 3rd position, just over a tenth behind, while Hamilton places himself at the top of the time sheet with a time of 1:06.079.

With five minutes left in the session, Verstappen still hasn’t set a timed lap, after having his second lap invalidated, and therefore must secure a lap to make it into Q2.

It is done, with a time of 1:05.852, and takes the 3rd position, now behind the two Ferraris, as Leclerc performed in 1:05.419, leaving the Dutchman more than 4 tenths behind.

In the fight for Q2 passage, Aston Martin and Williams are in the red zone, as well as Zhou. Ricciardo is in 15th position, once again struggling. After Stroll’s effort, the Canadian manages to snatch the position from the Australian, pushing him into the elimination zone by 6 hundredths of a second.

Great weather achieved by Albon, placing him 14th. He pushes Pierre Gasly down to 15th and thankfully he will stay there, but as a result, it moves Daniel Ricciardo.

Eliminated list: Vettel (20th) / Latifi (19th) / Zhou (18th) / Stroll (17th) / Ricciardo (16th)

Q2: Alfa Tauri out, Haas in.

First benchmark time obtained by Hamilton in 1:05.538, confirming his good form behind the wheel of his Mercedes. He is ahead of Verstappen by almost half a second and Russell. Perez remains at the 9th time, almost a second behind.

Behind, Alfa Romeo and Haas are fighting to stay in the top 10, just like Tsunoda.

Change of qualified in Q3, with Norris, Gasly, Albon and Perez now in danger. The Haas team had a surge in performance, temporarily finding themselves in 7th and 8th place. Norris remains in last position with 3 minutes left in the session.

In front, Leclerc sets the fastest time, ahead of Hamilton and Verstappen.

End of Q2, and Norris sees a time cancelled, leaving him with only one last chance to hope to make it to Q3. Both AlphaTauri cars are also eliminated at this stage, as well as Albon and Perez, who also saw a time cancelled.

Improvement from Albon which in turn pushes Bottas out. Perez finally improves and qualifies, pushing Albon out of the top 10. Session is also over for Gasly who fails by 9 milliseconds. No valid time for Norris.

Uncertainty about Perez’s time, who has apparently exceeded track limits. To be determined later for a possible relegation.

List of eliminated: Norris (15th) / Tsunoda (14th) / Bottas (13th) / Albon (12th) / Gasly (11th)

Q3: Two Mercedes, two red flags, and Verstappen the fastest.

The fight for the start of the sprint race is coming to an end with this final effort.

The battle at the summit of times begins, with Verstappen coming in to dislodge the Ferraris in 1:05.092.

Red flag in the middle of the session, following Lewis Hamilton’s loss of control. His Mercedes, after spinning out, ends up in the tires, appearing heavily damaged. The Englishman is fine and apologizes to his team for this mistake, especially since he was in the process of setting a benchmark lap.

Resumption of the session for five minutes.

Big crash for Russell, who, just like his teammate, loses control in the last corner. The British driver also triggers a red flag.

New session resumption for one final attempt.

Leclerc temporarily takes the best time with 1:05.013, but in front of an ecstatic crowd for Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, he manages to go below the 1 minute and 5 seconds mark with a time of 1:04.984.

Sainz finishes in the top 3, ahead of Perez and Russell.