
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen pipped the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc to pole position at the Austrian Grand Prix with his final lap of qualifying.
The world champion’s earlier fastest time had been beaten by Leclerc and his team-mate Carlos Sainz with their final laps but Verstappen snatched pole back.
The Dutchman was just 0.029 seconds quicker than Leclerc, with Sainz only 0.082secs off pole in a close session.
Both Mercedes crashed so George Russell starts fourth and Lewis Hamilton ninth.
The session set the grid for Saturday’s sprint race, the result of which establishes the grid for the main grand prix on Sunday.
Verstappen, who was serenaded by thousands of fans from his home country at his team’s home race, looked as if he had missed out as he headed into the final sector of his final lap. (BBC Sport)