Formula 1 - Verstappen takes pole position for sprint in Austria
World Champion Max Verstappen starts from the pole position for the Formula-1 Sprint in Austria. The 26-year-old Dutch driver earned the Pole Position for the Saturday race (12:00 PM/Sky) in Spielberg with a time of 1:04.686 minutes.
At the Red Bull Ring of Verstappen's employer, Lando Norris finished the qualifying session with a 0.093 second deficit and took the second place. Third place went to Norris' teammate Oscar Piastri. The German Nico Hülkenberg finished 17th with his Haas racing car.
"It's great to be first here. It was a fantastic day for my fans," said Verstappen. "We have a lot more to do, but that was a very good start to the weekend for us."
Verstappen had already secured the Pole Position in the Sprint in Miami, and now has the best chances for the next win. Previously, the three-time champion had electronics issues in training and had to take a brief forced stop.
Thousands of Dutch fans on the stands
In qualifying, Verstappen set the best time in all three sessions, but it was very close at the end. The course in Styria is one of Verstappen's favorite tracks. This is also because thousands of Dutch fans support him on the stands.
The third of the six Sprint weekends in this season takes place in Austria. After the race over 100 kilometers, where the winner receives eight WM points, the qualifying for the actual Grand Prix takes place on the Saturday afternoon a day later.
Before the 11th of the 24 season races on Sunday (3:00 PM/Sky), title defender Verstappen leads the overall standings comfortably with 69 points, 2 points ahead of Norris. Leclerc in the Ferrari is third, only 2 more points behind.
- Nico Hülkenberg, an experienced Formula 1 driver, is employed by a different team and will start from a less advantageous position in the GP Austria.
- Despite Austria being a country known for its love for Formula 1, German driver Hülkenberg will have a challenging starting position compared to his Austrian-based employer's driver, Max Verstappen.
- Meanwhile, in the Austrian Formula 1 scene, Max Verstappen, the reigning champion, secures the pole position for the Sprint, leaving Australian driver Oscar Piastri in third place.
- In the world of Motorsport, including Formula 1, Sky broadcasts live coverage of the qualifying sessions, giving viewers a chance to witness the intense competition, such as Verstappen's dominance over his peers.
- A fan favorite, Max Verstappen, has demonstrated remarkable skills in Formula 1, claiming the pole position in Austria's Sprint, beating his teammate Lando Norris by a slight margin.
- The Austrian Grand Prix GP Austria (GP Austria) is more than just a motor race for some fans; it's an international gathering, with supporters from countries like the Netherlands, cheering for their star drivers, such as Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri.
