Formula 1 Verstappen takes pole position for sprint in Austria
Max Verstappen starts from pole position in the sprint in Austria. Photo
© Erwin Scheriau/APA/dpa
World champion Max Verstappen has the best prospects for the next victory. The Red Bull star finished at the top of the qualification for the sprint race in Austria.
World champion Max Verstappen starts from pole position in the Formula 1 sprint in Austria. The 26-year-old Dutchman earned pole position for the short race on Saturday (12:00 p.m./Sky) in Spielberg with a time of 1:04.686 minutes.
At Verstappen’s employer’s Red Bull Ring, Lando Norris finished second in the time trial, just 0.093 seconds behind, with his teammate Oscar Piastri coming in third. German Nico Hülkenberg drove his Haas racing car across the finish line in 17th place.
“It’s great to be first here. It was a fantastic day in front of my fans,” said Verstappen. “We still have a lot to do, but this was a very good start to the weekend for us.”
Verstappen had already secured pole position in the sprint in Miami and now has the best prospects for the next victory. The three-time champion had previously had electronic problems in training and had to take a short break.
Thousands of Dutch fans in the stands
In qualifying, Verstappen set the fastest time in all three sections, with only a brief moment of pressure at the very end. The track in Styria is one of his favorites, not least because thousands of Dutch fans support him in the stands.
The third of a total of six sprint weekends this season will take place in Austria. After the 100-kilometer competition, in which the winner receives eight World Championship points, qualifying for the actual Grand Prix will take place on Saturday afternoon one day later.
Before the eleventh of a total of 24 races of the season on Sunday (3 p.m./Sky), defending champion Verstappen is comfortably ahead of Norris in the overall standings with 69 points. Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari is only two points behind in third place.
dpa
#Subjects
