Verstappen heads Red Bull one-two in sprint shootout in Austria

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Double world champion Max Verstappen led a Red Bull one-two in the short qualifying session for the afternoon’s sprint race. F1Technical’s senior journalist Balazs Szabo reports from the Red Bull Ring paddock.

The sprint shootout session started in difficult, slightly damp conditions, but it did not stop Max Verstappen from topping the second qualifying session this weekend, this time the one that will determine the starting grid for the afternoon’s 100km dash.

After a disappointing showing yesterday, Sergio Perez bounced back today to take second on the grid, beating McLaren driver Lando Norris and Haas racer Nico Hulkenberg.

Ferrari displayed encouraging pace again, but Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc took only fifth and sixth respectively. The Monegasque appeared to struggle for pace, having issues on the low grip track just as in the qualifying session at the Canadian Grand Prix that took place in similar conditions two weeks ago.

Mercedes had a shocker of a qualifying with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finishing down in P15 and P18 respectively. The one-time race winner made it through into Q2, but he encountered technical issues which prevented him from taking part in the second part of the shootout.

The seven-time world champion missed out on a progression in Q1 as he had a lap deleted for track limits, before traffic ruined his final effort of SQ1.

Results

Pos.No.DriverCarQ1Q2Q3Laps
11Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing Honda Rbpt1:06.2361:05.3711:04.44023
211Sergio PerezRed Bull Racing Honda Rbpt1:06.9241:05.8361:04.93323
34Lando NorrisMclaren Mercedes1:06.7231:05.6991:05.01023
427Nico HulkenbergHaas Ferrari1:06.5481:06.0911:05.08423
555Carlos SainzFerrari1:06.1871:05.4341:05.13618
616Charles LeclercFerrari1:07.0611:05.6731:05.24523
714Fernando AlonsoAston Martin Aramco Mercedes1:06.6111:05.7591:05.25824
818Lance StrollAston Martin Aramco Mercedes1:06.5691:05.9141:05.34724
931Esteban OconAlpine Renault1:06.8401:05.6041:05.36624
1020Kevin MagnussenHaas Ferrari1:06.6291:05.7301:05.91223
1123Alexander AlbonWilliams Mercedes1:06.8921:06.15218
1210Pierre GaslyAlpine Renault1:06.8731:06.36016
1322Yuki TsunodaAlphatauri Honda Rbpt1:06.8961:06.36918
1421Nyck De VriesAlphatauri Honda Rbpt1:06.7041:06.59318
1563George RussellMercedes1:06.65310
1624Zhou GuanyuAlfa Romeo Ferrari1:07.0629
1781Oscar PiastriMclaren Mercedes1:07.10610
1844Lewis HamiltonMercedes1:07.2829
1977Valtteri BottasAlfa Romeo Ferrari1:07.2919
202Logan SargeantWilliams Mercedes1:07.426