Austrian GP: George Russell takes confusing pole position as Max Verstappen crashes in dramatic qualifying

George Russell claimed pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix after a confusing finish to qualifying when Max Verstappen crashed.

Verstappen spun into the barriers at high speed on the last runs in Q3 and caused yellow flags, which usually means other drivers cannot improve their lap time as they need to slow down through the accident zone.

However, Russell lifted off the throttle and still went fastest to beat Charles Leclerc to pole, then was cleared by the FIA for a yellow-flag infringement.

Footage showed only a single yellow flag was being waved when Russell went past Verstappen’s crashed Red Bull, which changed to double yellow flags before he reached the finish line to set his pole-setting time.

Russell will have the Ferraris of Leclerc in second and Lewis Hamilton in third on his tail, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli in fourth.

Antonelli, who was fastest after the first runs in Q3, elected to lift off and abandon his lap when he saw the yellow flags and now faces the prospect of his two closest championship rivals starting ahead of him.

The Italian teenager is 41 points ahead of Hamilton and 50 points in front of Russell, who has now taken back-to-back pole positions.

Verstappen will start fifth after his strong opening lap in Q3, while McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will be disappointed to only be sixth and seventh respectively.

More to follow…

Austrian GP Qualifying Timesheet


Driver	Team	Time
1) George Russell	Mercedes	1:06.113
2) Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	+0.236
3) Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	+0.295
4) Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	+0.301
5) Max Verstappen	Red Bull	+0.362
6) Lando Norris	McLaren	+0.389
7) Oscar Piastri	McLaren	+0.398
8) Isack Hadjar	Red Bull	+0.519
9) Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls	+0.842
10) Arvid Lindblad	Racing Bulls	+0.894
Knocked out in Q2
11) Pierre Gasly	Alpine	1:07.223
12) Gabriel Bortoleto	Audi	1:07.293
13) Oliver Bearman	Haas	1:07.523
14) Nico Hulkenberg	Audi	1:07.611
15) Esteban Ocon	Haas	1:07.817
16) Franco Colapinto	Alpine	1:08.171
Knocked out in Q1
17) Carlos Sainz	Williams	1:08.252
18) Alex Albon	Williams	1:08.509
19) Sergio Perez	Cadillac	1:08.945
20) Valtteri Bottas	Cadillac	1:09.030
21) Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	1:09.942
22) Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	1:10.363

Sky Sports F1’s live Austrian GP schedule

Sunday June 28
7.35am: F3 Feature Race
9.05am: F2 Feature Race
10.50am: Porsche Supercup
12.30pm: Austrian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
2pm: THE AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Austrian GP reaction: Chequered Flag
5pm: Ted’s Notebook

*Also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1’s European season continues with the Austrian Grand Prix lights out on Sunday at 2pm, build-up from 12.30pm, live on Sky Sports F1 and Main Event. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime

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