Max Verstappen takes Austrian GP pole ahead of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, Lewis Hamilton fifth

Updated 30/06/2023 at 18:55 GMT

Runaway Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen will start on pole position at the Austrian Grand Prix after topping the timings at the Sprint Race. Red Bull's Verstappen was faster than Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, who took second and third respectively. McLaren's Lando Norris was fourth ahead of Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton.

Verstappen 'put the lap in when it mattered' to secure Austrian GP pole

Red Bull's Max Verstappen qualified in pole position for Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix.

It is perhaps unsurprising that the Austrian setup were able to come in fastest at their home track, but they did not have it all their own way.

Verstappen was also summoned to the stewards for allegedly impeding Kevin Magnussen during Q1, but was cleared and kept pole.

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Verstappen said: "It was very difficult because of all the track limits. We don't do this on purpose but with these speeds and high-speed corners it is very difficult to judge the white line.

"A lot of people were being caught out, including me. It takes out the joy a little bit but still a very good lap."

Runaway championship leader Verstappen had been fastest in the first practice session in Austria earlier in the day, and the current world champion was quickest early on in the session.

Dark clouds loomed with fears of an interruption for rain, but the first halt came minutes into the start when Valtteri Bottas came to a halt at Turn One.

Once Q1 was complete, Yuki Tsunoda, Zhou Guanyu, Logan Sargeant, Kevin Magnussen and Nyck De Vries were all cut as the bottom five.

Just as Q2 was getting going, light rain started to appear which threatened to complicate matters.

Verstappen was just one of several drivers who kept having their times deleted as they struggled to stay within the lines, and there was drama at the end of Q2 as both George Russell and Sergio Perez found themselves cut when their times were wiped out. They were joined by Esteban Ocon, Oscar Piastri and Bottas.

The deletions continued into the third session but Verstappen’s time of 1:04.391s was the quickest of the day,

Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were second and third, respectively, with McLaren's Lando Norris fourth and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton fifth.

Tomorrow will see the Sprint Shootout followed by the Sprint Race.

The Austrian Grand Prix takes place on Sunday.