The Red Bull Ring is back on our screens and fans tune in for today’s Formula 1 Qualifying. This is a track that has historically favoured Max Verstappen, but did the sea of orange help the Dutchman secure another Pole in Austria?
Q1:
The Aston Martin of Lance Stroll was the first of the 20 drivers to hit the circuit. The Canadian took advantage of the empty track to set an initial lap of 1:06.6. Behind him in the early stages of Q1, Sainz, Bearman and Ocon were some of the other drivers getting the feel of the track.
Austria is notorious for catching drivers with track limits. Q1 saw many drivers dipping into the gravel. In order to avoid lap times being deleted and penalties being applied, all the drivers will want clean laps. Looking back to 2024, Lando Norris was one of the drivers hit with a time penalty got exceeding track limits.
So far this season, Championship leader Oscar Piastri has out-qualified his teammate 8:5 (including Sprint qualifying). By the middle stage of Q1, both drivers sat 1 and 2 on the time table. They returned to the circuit in the closing stages of the session to improve their time, securing their places in Q2.
With 30 seconds left on the clock, George Russell, last race’s winner, found himself on the brink of the drop zone. As the chequered flag flew, he managed to find a lap good enough for P11, behind his teammate in P10. Carlos Sainz didn’t manage to improve and finished P19.
Eliminated in Q1:
- 16th – Stroll
- 17th – Ocon
- 18th – Tsunoda
- 19th – Sainz
- 20th – Hulkenberg
Q2:
The Ferrari drivers set off early in the second qualifying session. Leclerc looked very quick, initially lighting up his sectors purple, and Hamilton following behind. 1:05.446 was the initial time to beat in Q2.
After finishing Q1 in P3, Liam Lawson continued his strong performance in Q2, taking an early provisional pole during the middle stages of the session. His teammate Hadjar also made it to Q2, something the Frenchman had gotten very used to this season. Racing Bulls seemingly looking very strong around the Red Bull ring this weekend.
Red Flag:
The Red Flag was brought out in Q2 after Hamilton found the dirt coming onto the start straight. Dirt was left over the racing line, so the session was suspended to clear the track. With about 4 minutes left on the clock, the session resumed and the drivers returned to the circuit.
As Hulkenburg was eliminated in Q1, all hope was left to Bortaletto, who shocked the spectators and produced a time that put him on the second row (when he crossed the line). The session ended, he found himself sat in P5. Despite a strong start to the session, Hadjar was one of the drivers who did not make it to Q3. The Frenchman will start P13.
Eliminated in Q2:
- 11th – Alonso
- 12th – Albon
- 13th – Hadjar
- 14th – Colapinto
- 15th – Bearman
Q3:
The final dash for the fastest lap saw a pit lane disaster almost occur when George Russell was released into the path of the Ferraris. Luckily there was no collision.
The McLaren is incredibly strong around the Red Bull Ring, with both drivers flying around the circuit and topping the table in the early stages. Ferrari seemingly have a great chance this weekend. By the middle stages of Q3, the Ferrari drivers found themselves on the front and second row.
Yellow Flag
A yellow flag proved tragic for Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen who had to bail on his flying lap. Pierre Gasly span into the final corner, effecting the runs of Verstappen and Piastri. Luckily for Gasly, he was able to keep the car going.
As the clock hit zero, Lando Norris took pole position by over half a second and Charles Leclerc in P2. The second row will look similar to the front, with Piastri keeping P3 and the Ferrari of Hamilton in P4.
Liam Lawson has had a brilliant day, qualifying P5 – the team will be very pleased with that result. Also being pleased will be Sauber, who got their driver Bortoletto to P8 for tomorrows main race.
With many long straights around Austria, tomorrows race should be highly competitive and full of action!