The second sprint race of the season is on the programme this Saturday afternoon at the Red Bull Ring. The first of this year was won by Max Verstappen after a duel with Charles Leclerc at the circuit of Imola. Can the world championship leader do the same again?
Sprint race
Verstappen will start from pole position after setting the fastest time in qualifying. Behind him, however, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will be looking to fire up the grid. Teammate Sergio Perez will not be backing up, as he will start from 13th after a steward's penalty.
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It will in any case remain dry in Austria on Saturday. Some showers were expected last week, but they will only come close to the circuit after the sprint race. From around 10pm onwards it will rain throughout the night, which means that the rubber that has been laid down will be rained out.
The winner of the sprint race will receive eight points. The number two receives seven points, the number three six. The number of points decreases by one, so the driver finishing eighth gets the last point. For Verstappen, the sprint race is an excellent opportunity to increase his lead in the World Championship.