Max Verstappen Takes Austria Sprint Pole In Red Bull Front Row Lock Out As Rivals Struggle

Max Verstappen put his Red Bull on Sprint pole position in Austria, as the team locked-out the front row with Sergio Perez securing second position.

Verstappen topped a qualifying session for the second time this weekend, having taken Grand Prix pole on Friday evening.

Expected rivals to Red Bull in Ferrari and Mercedes struggled in the shortened session, with Ferrari fifth and sixth, while Mercedes endured a disastrous session.

Seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton was knocked out in SQ1 and will start 18th, while George Russell will run from 15th after a hydraulic failure at the end of SQ1.

McLaren’s Lando Norris emerged as Red Bull’s closest challenger, bettering his Friday effort of fourth by scoring third, ahead of Haas qualifying specialist Nico Hulkenberg.

Aston Martin also struggled, with drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll behind the Ferrari pair, but a much-needed boost came for Dutch driver Nyck De Vries.

The Formula 2 and Formula E champion qualified 14th, the 28-year-old much closer to his teammate Yuki Tsunoda.