The Austrian Grand Prix qualifying session produced more drama than usual as Max Verstappen of Red Bull stormed to pole position on a quiet Saturday. In a session shaped by time trial discipline and the subtle drift of track limits, the Monza-like tempo of the top teams saw Charles Leclerc from Ferrari and Carlos Sainz also claim spots on the front row, while Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin lined up a strong seventh after a day that tested the limits of the clock more than the weather.
Verstappen set the benchmark with a lap of 1:04.391, a time that stood firm as the session progressed and as several attempts were wiped away due to track-limit violations. Leclerc clocked 1:05.983 to sit second, and Sainz was 0.029 seconds behind his teammate, securing a strong front-row lockout for the Scuderia while others fell just short. Alonso, despite a composed pace across the weekend, could not match the top times and finished seventh, roughly half a second off Verstappen’s pace.
The early surprise came in Q2 as Sergio Perez, Red Bull’s number two, failed to advance to Q3 and will start fifteenth, a setback that adds drama to the race strategy. George Russell, the Mercedes driver, also failed to reach the final session, earning an 11th place grid slot on Sunday.
As forecasts suggested rain might complicate the day, the skies stayed dry and the asphalt stayed under 40 degrees, allowing drivers to push without the worry of wet surface handling. Alexander Albon, returning to form with Williams, impressed by breaking into the top ten after a lighter weekend so far. He started the session strong, but Verstappen’s opening runs quickly asserted the Red Bull pace, with the Dutch driver laying down a first quick lap that others would chase.
In line with practice sessions, Ferrari showed a sharp one-lap pace. Leclerc was two tenths behind Verstappen on the opening run, Sainz followed closely, and then Hamilton and Alonso rounded out the top five in the early moments of the session. Verstappen, however, delivered when it mattered most. On his final attempt, he dropped his lap time by a few tenths to cross the line at 1:04.391, securing his fourth pole position in a row in the world championships and on this track, ahead of Leclerc whose near-flawless lap could not quite erase the margin.
Sainz ended up almost two tenths off the pole, while Lando Norris in a surprise push clinched fourth place for McLaren, beating Hamilton who finished fifth. Alonso stood seventh in a session that was solid for Aston Martin but not at the level of Verstappen’s pace. The top ten was completed by Nico Hülkenberg, Pierre Gasly and Alexander Albon, a reflection of the session’s uncertainty and the drivers’ readiness to push to the limit.
Where to watch Formula 1 races
For fans without access to the stands, the season’s action remains accessible through broadcast outlets. In Spain, the coverage continues via Dazn and Movistar+ with each provider sharing the event. Open access broadcasts are not expected to be available, so viewers rely on these platforms for the live feed.
Those without access to the paid options can still follow the action live through the official live stream, ensuring fans do not miss a moment of the sprint to Sunday’s race.
Austrian F1 GP sprint race schedule
Saturday, July 1
- Sprint race: 16:30