Max Verstappen claims pole position for the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen has claimed pole position for Sunday’s 2023 Austrian Grand Prix, finishing in the top spot with a lap time of 1:04.391. The Red Bull driver beat Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for the top spot at the Red Bull Ring.

Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton trailed Ferrari and Verstappen for fourth and fifth place, whilst the Aston Martin duo of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso claimed the sixth and seventh positions. Nico Hulkenberg, Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon rounded out the top 10.

It was a torrid day for both George Russell and Sergio Perez as they struggled with track limits and found themselves out in Q2.

Track limits haunt drivers in Q1

The Red Bull duo of Perez and Verstappen stormed into the lead but were split by Oscar Piastri after their first flying laps. Lots of drivers were struggling with only having one hour of practice and had lap times deleted due to exceeding track limits. Valtteri Bottas caused the first red flag of the weekend, as he spun at Turn 1 and was facing the wrong way on the track but he was able to return to the pits and continue on in the session.

When racing returned and the red flag ended, Verstappen quickly regained his lead at the top, with Ferrari slotting in behind the Dutchman. The problem the drivers were dealing with early on continued and track limits became a major problem in placing out of the elimination zone.

Both Perez and Russell struggled to find any pace throughout their opening flying laps and with the time slowly ticking down, found themselves just outside the elimination zone in 13th and 12th respectively.

Norris used his McLaren upgrades to his advantage and moved ahead of the Ferrari’s, slotting into P2 with two minutes to go, however, this lap ended up getting deleted for track limits after the chequered flag was flown.

Russell and Albon both found themselves in the elimination zone as the chequered flag was flown, but managed to secure a place in Q2 with strong final laps.

OUT IN Q1 - Tsunoda, Zhou, Sargeant, Magnussen, de Vries

Russell and Perez out in Q2!

Verstappen continued his dominance at the Red Bull Ring and moved into the 1:04’s with his first lap of Q2, however, it was removed due to track limits alongside his teammate Perez’s. Norris placed his McLaren behind the two drivers, meaning he was promoted to the top spot.

After complaining about the track limits, the Dutchman then retook the top spot from Norris. A battle behind the Red Bull driver ensued as drivers vowed to move into the top 10 and into Q3.

Russell’s struggles continued but after his flying lap late into Q2, both he and Perez had a lap time deleted, dropping them all the way down to 14th and 15th. Both drivers were struggling with Turn 9 and it was clear that they were thinking about the issues on their next laps, as Russell couldn’t find a time to get out of the elimination zone and Perez had his time got deleted again.

OUT IN Q2 - Russell, Ocon, Bottas, Piastri, Perez

New sets of tyres appear in Q3

After some teams used used tyres throughout Q1 and Q2, switching to new tyres was an obvious choice for the eight teams that made it into Q3.

Verstappen quickly took the lead and it was the battle behind that caught the eye of many, with Ferrari leading over Norris and Hamilton.