formula 1
Verstappen takes pole – Mercedes duo in the tire stacks
Max Verstappen starts from pole in the sprint race in Spielberg. Photo: Erwin Scheriau/APA/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
Max Verstappen won qualifying for Red Bull’s Formula 1 home game and secured pole position for Saturday’s sprint race.
Max Verstappen won qualifying for Red Bull’s Formula 1 home game and secured pole position for Saturday’s sprint race.
The defending champion and world championship leader relegated Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari to second place by 29 thousandths of a second. His team-mate Carlos Sainz finished third ahead of Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull. Mick Schumacher finished eighth in the Haas. Sebastian Vettel was prematurely eliminated in the Aston Martin as 20th and last.
The final round of the knockout phase had to be interrupted for around ten minutes after Lewis Hamilton had an accident. The Mercedes driver went off the track and landed in the tire stacks with his Silver Arrow. He was unharmed. Shortly after it started again, teammate George Russell also demolished his car in an accident.
In the sprint race this Saturday, the winner gets eight points, and the starting grid for the Grand Prix on Sunday is also determined there. Verstappen is currently at the top of the rankings with 181 points, teammate Sergio Perez is second with 147 points, Leclerc third with 138 points.